title: Ambient air levels and trends of polychlorinated biphenyls at four different sites.
abstract: In this study, samples were collected in order to determine atmospheric levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in four different sites by using a high-volume air sampler (HVAS). Eighty-three congeners of gas and particle- phase PCBs were investigated in air samples. The total (gas + particle) concentrations for Mudanya (coastal), Butal (traffic/urban), the Uludag University Campus (semirural), and Yavuz Selim (residential) were determined as 570, 394, 412, and 316 pg/m(3), respectively. These levels coincide with the values reported for the sites having similar characteristics. In terms of homolog groups, 3-chlorinated biphenyls (3-CBs) and 4-CBs constituted at least 47% of the total PCB concentration. PCBs in all sites were determined mostly in the gas phase, with a percentage from 85 to 95%. Obtained atmospheric PCB data were correlated with meteorological parameters and a significant relationship was obtained between coastal and semirural sites (p < 0.05). With the movements of air transportation and wind rose possible data sources of PCBs were enlightened. Partitioning of gas/particle was examined with available models; significant relationships were determined for coastal and semirural sites especially.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Uludag University, Gorukle, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: S Sıddık
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cindoruk
authors.forename: Yücel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tasdemir
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls