PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in indoor environments - A comparison of indoor contamination in Canada and Czech Republic

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Authors

AUDY Ondřej MELYMUK Lisa Emily VENIER Marta VOJTA Šimon BEČANOVÁ Jitka ROMANAK Kevin VYKOUKALOVÁ Martina PROKEŠ Roman KUKUČKA Petr DIAMOND Miriam Leah KLÁNOVÁ Jana

Year of publication 2018
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Chemosphere
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653518308580?via%3Dihub
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.05.016
Keywords Polychlorinated biphenyls; Organochlorine pesticides; DDT; HCB; HCH; Country differences
Description Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCP5) are restricted compounds that are ubiquitously detected in the environment, including indoor matrices such as air and residential dust. We report concentrations of PCBs and selected OCPs in indoor air and dust from homes in Canada (23 homes) and Czech Republic (20 homes). Indoor air concentrations of PCBs and OCPs were-10 times higher than that outdoors. PCB concentrations of similar to 450 ng/m(3) were similar in both countries, higher in homes built before the restrictions on PCBs, and had congener profiles consistent with PCB mixtures manufactured or used in each country. All OCP air concentrations were higher in the Czech Republic than in the Canadian samples, suggesting greater indoor use of, for example, DDT and HCH. These data emphasize the persistence of these organochlorine compounds indoors and their presence in homes even decades after new usage was prohibited. Indoor levels of these legacy POPs remain at similar concentrations to compounds of current concern, such as brominated flame retardants and per fluorinated alkyl substances, emphasizing that they deserve ongoing attention in view of knowledge of PCB and OCP toxicity.
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