title: Spatial distribution of polychlorinated naphthalenes in the atmosphere across North China based on gridded field observations.
abstract: Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) belong to a group of dioxin-like pollutants; however little information is available on PCNs in North China. In this study, gridded field observations by passive air sampling at 90 sites were undertaken to determine the levels, spatial distributions, and sources of PCNs in the atmosphere of North China. A median concentration of 48 pg m(-3) (range: 10-2460 pg m(-3)) for ∑29PCNs indicated heavy PCN pollution. The compositional profile indicated that nearly 90% of PCNs observed were from thermal processes rather than from commercial mixtures. Regarding the source type, a quantitative apportionment suggested that local non-point emissions contributed two-thirds of the total PCNs observed in the study, whereas a point source of electronic-waste recycling site contributed a quarter of total PCNs. The estimated toxic equivalent quantity for dioxin-like PCNs ranged from 0.97 to 687 fg TEQ m(-3), with the electronic-waste recycling site with the highest risk.
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xinghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qiaoyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D002681:China; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009281:Naphthalenes
keywords: Atmosphere; North China; Passive air sampling; Polychlorinated naphthalene; Source