title: A comparison of the levels and particle size distribution of lower chlorinated dioxin/furans (mono- to tri-chlorinated homologues) with those of tetra- to octa-chlorinated homologues in atmospheric samples.
abstract: There is very little information on the levels and particle size distributions of lower chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (mono- to tri-CDD/Fs, ΣCl1-3DD/Fs) in the atmosphere, while a number of studies have examined tetra- to octa-chlorinated homologues (ΣCl4-8DD/Fs). In this study, we measured the concentration and particle size distribution of ΣCl1-3DD/Fs in ambient air in suburban Beijing and compared them with that of ΣCl4-8DD/Fs for the first time. The mean concentration of ΣCl1-3DD/Fs was 54.63 pg m(-3), which is about 5.4 times that of ΣCl4-8DD/Fs. The ΣCl1-3DD/Fs accounted for 85% of ΣCl1-8DD/Fs, and MoCDFs made up the largest proportion (43%) of PCDD/F homologues. The ΣCl1-3DD/Fs mainly occurred in the gas phase, while the ΣCl4-8DD/Fs mainly occurred in the particulate phase. The majority of ΣCl1-3DD/Fs (70%) occurred in dae > 1.0 μm particles, which is the reverse of the trend observed for ΣCl4-8DD/Fs, of which 78% occurred in dae < 1.0 μm particles. The observed high concentrations of ΣCl1-3DD/Fs and different distribution patterns demonstrate that it is necessary to consider the lower chlorinated homologues to improve our understanding of the environmental behavior and health risk assessments of PCDD/Fs in the atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China. Electronic address: zhengmh@rcees.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Guorui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Shujun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Beijing Urban Ecosystem Research Station, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Hongxing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Urban Ecosystem Research Station, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoke
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Lirong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001272:Atmosphere; D000068476:Beijing; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D054879:Halogenation; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004147:Dioxins; D005663:Furans
keywords: Atmosphere; Distribution; Gas/particle partitioning; Mono- to tri-chlorinated homologues; PCDD/Fs; Particles