Seasonality of PCDD/Fs in the ambient air of Malopolska region, southern Poland.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to identify the impact of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and furan (PCDD/F) emission sources on ambient air concentrations in the Malopolska Region, southern Poland. Three sites were selected: the city center of Krakow (Aleje), an industrial area (Nova Huta), and a rural site (Zakopane). In order to investigate the annual variations of PCDD/F sources, summer and winter time samples were taken.


METHODS
Ambient air particulate matter (PM10) was collected using an Anderson High-Volume sampler during June and December 2002 in the three mentioned sites. Analysis of PCDD/Fs was based on isotope dilution using high-resolution gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry for quantification.


CONCLUSIONS
Total concentrations of 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs in air particulate phase from Malopolska region ranged from 0.6 to 37 pg m(-3) (0.04-3.2 pg WHO(98)-TEQ per cubic meter, 0.037-2.9 pg I-TEQ per cubic meter). Higher PCDD/F concentrations were measured at all three sites during winter. A linear correlation among PCDD/F concentrations, benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and PM10 concentrations, was found in Aleje and Zakopane, which suggested that all compounds were originating from the same source, solid fuel domestic heating. Instead, PCDD/F levels in Nova Huta did not correlate with the seasonality of B(a)P or PM10 levels and 2,3,7,8-PCDD/F congener patterns for this site were significantly different from the other sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Domestic solid fuel combustion is likely the main PCDD/F source in winter in this part of Poland for urban and rural sites. PCDD/F fingerprints in the industrial site remained almost identical during summer and winter, confirming the yearly prevalence of the emissions from the nearby metal industry.


CONCLUSIONS
PCDD/F concentrations found in Malopolska Region are in the upper range of ambient air concentrations of PCDD/Fs reported worldwide. However, further research is needed in order to study the impact of the deposition of these PCDD/F emissions on the region. A more extended study is being conducted in the area to analyze soil samples, such as sink of atmospheric deposition, and spruce needles, as indicator of PCDD/F availability.
Umlauf
Gunther
G
Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), European Commission-Joint Research Center (JRC), Via Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, Italy.
Christoph
Eugen H
EH
Eisenreich
Steven J
SJ
Mariani
Giulio
G
Paradiz
Bostjan
B
Vives
Ingrid
I
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005579:Fossil Fuels / Q000032:analysis; D006361:Heating; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011044:Poland; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons
D000393:Air Pollutants; D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D007220:Industrial Waste; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins