Seasonal variation in diffusive exchange of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons across the air-seawater interface in coastal urban area.
Concentrations of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air-seawater interface were measured over 1year in the coastal region of Incheon, South Korea. Most individual PAHs and total PAHs in air displayed statistically significant negative correlations with temperature, but not significant in seawater. Less hydrophobic compounds with three rings were at or near equilibrium in summer, while PAHs with four to six rings were in disequilibrium in all seasons, with higher fugacity gradients in colder seasons and for more hydrophobic compounds. Differently from fugacity gradients, the highest net fluxes occurred for some three- and four-ring PAHs showing the highest atmospheric concentrations. Net gaseous exchange, which was higher in winter, occurred from air to seawater with an annual cumulative flux of 2075μg/m(2)/year (for Σ15PAHs), indicating that atmospheric PAHs in this region, originating from coal/biomass combustion, can deteriorate the quality of seawater and sediment.
Department of Marine Science, College of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro (Songdo-dong), Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, South Korea; Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro (Songdo-dong), Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, South Korea. Electronic address: skkim@inu.ac.kr.
Seung-Kyu
SK
Kim
Department of Biology, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro (Songdo-dong), Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, South Korea.
Doo Hyun
DH
Chae
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Air–water exchange; Emission; Equilibrium state; Fugacity; Intermedia transport; PAHs