title: Towards a regional passive air sampling network and strategy for new POPs in the GRULAC region: Perspectives from the GAPS Network and first results for organophosphorus flame retardants.
abstract: A discussion is presented on the limitations for air monitoring studies around the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC), highlighting key issues requiring further attention, and reports on how a special initiative is addressing these limitations. Preliminary results are presented for the first reported data on organophosphorus flame retardant (OPFR) concentrations in outdoor air from the GRULAC region. At the majority of sites the concentrations and the profile of the OPFRs detected were similar with tris (chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP) dominating (<MDL to 1280pg/m3). However, the urban location at Concepción, Chile presented higher concentrations and a different profile with tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) dominating (mean 800pg/m3vs 80pg/m3at the other locations) -indicating different sources at this location. OPFRs, used extensively as flame retardants and plasticizers, are found ubiquitously in indoor environments yet only few studies report outdoor air levels. This preliminary study of only 7 sites highlights how extensive regional passive sampling networks (such as GAPS) can provide important new information to support risk assessment of these and similar chemicals. Finally, the various challenges with implementing a regional monitoring program are discussed, including harmonizing data from various monitoring programs for reporting to the GMP.
authors.affiliation: Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, M3H 5T4, Canada.
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rauert
authors.affiliation: Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, M3H 5T4, Canada. Electronic address: Tom.Harner@Canada.ca.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harner
authors.affiliation: Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, M3H 5T4, Canada.
authors.forename: Jasmin K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.affiliation: Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, M3H 5T4, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Quinto
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Instituto de Oceanografia, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fillmann
authors.affiliation: Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances, Heredia, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Luisa Eugenia
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: CENICA/INE, Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fentanes
authors.affiliation: Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Cájeme, Cájeme, Sonora, México.
authors.forename: Martín Villa
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ibarra
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Karina S B
authors.initials: KSB
authors.lastname: Miglioranza
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Física de La Atmósfera, Instituto de Investigaciones Física, UMSA, La Paz, Bolivia.
authors.forename: Isabel Moreno
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rivadeneira
authors.affiliation: Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Arauca, Colombia.
authors.forename: Andrea Padilla
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Puerta
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Manizales, Colombia.
authors.forename: Beatriz Helena Aristizábal
authors.initials: BHA
authors.lastname: Zuluaga
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D007843:Latin America; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds
keywords: GAPS Network; GRULAC region; OPFRs; Regional monitoring programs