title: Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in atmospheric particulate matter of Northern China: distribution, sources, and risk assessment.
abstract: The objectives of this work are to track the contamination levels, distribution characteristics, and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in atmospheric particulate matter (APM) of Northern China and to provide more comprehensive and fundamental data for risk assessment of organochlorine contaminants (OCs) in environments. Samples were extracted and purified by the microwave-assisted extraction and solid-phase extraction system, respectively. PCBs and OCPs were analyzed by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. The concentrations of ΣPCBs and ΣOCPs ranged from 0.73 to 112.65 ng/g and 0.14 to 34.73 ng/g, respectively. PCBs in atmospheric particulates collected from Shijiazhuang City had the highest concentration, whereas OCP congeners were at the relatively low levels. However, the highest concentration of OCPs occurred in Yongning City. The principal component analysis indicated that the predominant compositions of PCBs in most of samples were tetrachlorobiphenyl (Tetra-CB), pentachlorobiphenyl (Penta-CB), hexachlorobiphenyl (Hexa-CB), and heptachlorbiphenyl (Hepta-CB), while hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDTs, chlordanes, and endosulfans were the dominant components of OCPs, which was attributed to their application characteristics. OCs in those particles were further used to assess a potential cancer risk to humans via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. Cancer risk was evaluated in airborne particles caused by PCBs and OCPs. TEQPCBs values suggested that the representative areas were subject to different pollution degrees. However, the pollution of OCPs in certain areas should be a concern due to 41.6% of the high risk, which could pose a potential risk to organisms.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.|School of Material Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuangshuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.|School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Faqin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. greenworldwb@swust.edu.cn.|School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. greenworldwb@swust.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.|School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.|School of Material Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liufei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.|School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mengjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Analytical and Testing Center, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D002706:Chlordan / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010575:Pesticides; D002706:Chlordan; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Atmospheric particulate matter; Northern China; Occurrence; Organochlorine pesticides; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Risk