P1020239

Environ. Sci. Techno!. 2008, 42, 7125-7131

Passhre Air Sampling of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides at the Korean Arctic and Antarctic Research Stations: Implications for Long-Range Transport and Local Pollution

SUNG-DEUK CHOI,^{+ ł} SONG-YEE B AEK,⁺ YOON-SEOK CHANG,*'^{1 2 3} FRANK WANIA,^{4 5 6 7 8} MICHAEL G. IKONOM OU,^s YOUNG-JUN Y O O N ,¹¹ BYONG-KWON PARK," AND SUN GMIN HONG"

School of Erwironmental Science and Engineering, Pohang Uniuersity of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea, Department ofPhysical and Emńronmental Sciences, Uniuersity of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Troił, Toronto, Ontario, Canada MIC 1A4, Contaminanr Sciences, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fislieries and Oceans Canada (DFO), 9860 West Saanich Road, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada V8L 4B2, and Korea Polar Research Institute,

Songdo Techno Park, 7-50, Songdo-Dong, Yeonsu-Gu,

Incheon P.O. Box 32, 406-840 Republic of Korea

Recewed April 10, 2008. Reuised manuscript receiued July 16, 2008. Accepted July 28, 2008.

To assess levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in polar regions, XAD-resin based passive air samplers were deployed for one year at the Korean polar research stations at Ny-Alesund, Norway (2005-2006) and King George Island, Antarctica (2004- 2005). Backward trajectories suggestthat these stations are affected by long-range transport from source regions in Northern Europę and Russia and the Southern tip of South America, respectively. Relatively high levels of PCB-11, averaging 60 pg*m^-3, were observed in Antarctica, suggesting an unusual source of PCB-11 to the Southern Hemisphere. Reflecting the hemispheric distribution of global PCB emissions, the average level of SaePCB (excluding three mono-CBs and PCB-11) was five times higher in the Arctic (95 pg*m^-3) tlian in the Antarctic (19 pg*m^-3). Levels of 2$PCB at Ny-Alesund were similar to those reported for other Arctic sites, while levels at King George Island were lower than at other sites on the Antarctic Peninsula but 1 order of magnitude higher than background levelsmeasured ata morę remote Antarctic site. Lighthomologues were predominant in all samples (except for one Arctic sample), consistent with the hypothesis of global fractionation and predictions of long-range transport potential, Dominance of heavy PCBs on the roof of the main building at Ny-Alesund and a concentration gradient with distance from the main building at King George Island strongly indicated the influence of local sources. 0CP levels were also influenced by long-range transport but not by local sources. This study highlights the feasibility of using passive air sampling to assess both long-range transport and local pollution in remote regions.

Iiitroduction

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and many organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are classified and regulated as persistent organie pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. Produced for industrial purposes, global PCB production and emissions are relatively well established and were centered around Northern midlatitude regions [1-3). POPs are ubiąuitous, being detected regularly in samples from remote polar regions. The occurrence in these pristine erwironnienis has been explained by the process of global cold-trapping and fractiopation (4), and long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) has been identified as one of the main pathways for POPs to polar regions (5-7). The potential additional influence of anthropogenic activities within the polar regions is illustrated by reports of elevated levels of PCBs in atmosphere and sediments at McMurdo station, Ross Island, Antarctica (8, 9). Antarctic soils were also reported to be contaminated by remote and local sources of PCBs [10). These studies suggest that both LRAT and local pollution play a key role in determining the level and pattern of POPs at polar research stations.

Atmospheric monitoring of POPs in remote regions traditionally relies on high volume air samplers (HiVol). I Iowever, active air sampling is typically limited to short time periods. Also, there is often no electricity supply at truły remote sites, i.e. away from research stations and their generators. In recent years, various types of passive air samplers (PAS) have been deve!oped and used for POPs monitoring [11-15). A PAS consists of a sorbent materiał (e.g., XAD resin, triolein, and polyurethane foarn) placed in a protective chamber. POPs physically sorb to the sorbent after diffiision to the sorbent surface. Details on the tlieoiy ofpassive air sampling can befound elsewhere [16). Because of their simplicity, PAS can be installed at multiple sites, yielding relatively highly spatially resolved air concentralions from the local to the global scalę [17-23).

Here we compare passive air sampling data collected at north and south polar sites with the aim to investigate the influence of LRAT and local pollution on atmospheric POPs levels at remote research stations. Specifically, we report annual average concentrations of several OCPs and of the fuli siatę of PCB congeners at sites with variable distance from the Korean polar research stations in Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen, Norway and King George Island, Antarctica. The measured data are compared among sampling sites and with the results of previous studies conducted in the polar regions. Meteorological data and model simulations are used to identify the potential influence of LRAT and local pollution

Materials and Methods

Passive Air Sampler. XAD 2-resin based PAS were used in this study because their sampling ratę is not strongly dependent on wind speed [13), and semivoIatile organie compounds do not approach eąuilibrium between air and the PAS’s XAD resin for morę than one year (73, 24).

VOL. 42, NO. 10, 2008 i ENYIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY • 7125

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* Corresponding author phone: [phone]; fax: (82)-54-

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279-8299; e-mail: [e-mail].

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' Pohang University of Science and Technology.

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’ U niversity of Toronto Scarborough.

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Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

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" Korea Polar Research Institute.

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10.1021/es801004p CCC: S40.75    © 2008 American Chemical Society

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Publisheo on Web 09/04/2008