title: Polyurethane foam (PUF) disk passive samplers derived polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) concentrations in the ambient air of Bursa-Turkey: Spatial and temporal variations and health risk assessment.
abstract: Polyurethane foam (PUF) passive samplers were employed to assess air concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in background, agricultural, semi-urban, urban and industrial sites in Bursa, Turkey. Samplers were deployed for approximately 2-month periods from February to December 2014 in five sampling campaign. Results showed a clear rural-agricultural-semi-urban-urban-industrial PCBs concentration gradient. Considering all sampling periods, ambient air concentrations of Σ43PCBs ranged from 9.6 to 1240 pg/m3at all sites with an average of 24.1 ± 8.2, 43.8 ± 24.4, 140 ± 190, 42.8 ± 24.6, 160 ± 280, 84.1 ± 105, 170 ± 150 and 280 ± 540 pg/m3for Mount Uludag, Uludag University Campus, Camlica, Bursa Technical University Osmangazi Campus, Hamitler, Agakoy, Kestel Organised Industrial District and Demirtas Organised Industrial District sampling sites, respectively. The ambient air PCB concentrations increased along a gradient from background to industrial areas by a factor of 1.7-11.4. 4-Cl PCBs (31.50-81.60%) was the most dominant homologue group at all sampling sites followed by 3-Cl, 7-Cl, 6-Cl and 5-Cl homologue groups. Sampling locations and potential sources grouped in principal component analysis. Results of PCA plots highlighted a large variability of the PCB mixture in air, hence possible related sources, in Bursa area. Calculated inhalation risk levels in this study indicated no serious adverse health effects. This study is one of few efforts to characterize PCB composition in ambient air seasonally and spatially for urban and industrial areas of Turkey by using passive samplers as an alternative sampling method for concurrent monitoring at multiple sites.
authors.affiliation: Bursa Technical University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Architecture and Engineering, Mimar Sinan Mahallesi Mimar Sinan Bulvarı Eflak Caddesi No: 177, 16310, Yıldırım, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aşkın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Birgül
authors.affiliation: Bursa Technical University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Architecture and Engineering, Mimar Sinan Mahallesi Mimar Sinan Bulvarı Eflak Caddesi No: 177, 16310, Yıldırım, Bursa, Turkey. Electronic address: perihan.kurt@btu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Perihan Binnur
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Kurt-Karakus
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida St Petersburg, Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Geography, 140 7th Avenue South, St Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alegria
authors.affiliation: Izmir Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Gülbahçe, Urla, 35430, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gungormus
authors.affiliation: Akdeniz University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, 07058, Konyaaltı, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.affiliation: Izmir Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Gülbahçe, Urla, 35430, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cicek
authors.affiliation: Akdeniz University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, 07058, Konyaaltı, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine Can
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Güven
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D009369:Neoplasms; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012621:Seasons; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011140:Polyurethanes; C028279:polyurethane foam; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Background to industrial transect; Bursa-Turkey; Health risk assessment; Passive air samplers; Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)