Passive-Sampler-Derived PCB and OCP Concentrations in the Waters of the World─First Results from the AQUA-GAPS/MONET Network
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Environmental Science and Technology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01866 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01866 |
| Keywords | passive sampler; polychlorinated biphenyls; hexachlorobenzene; hexachlorocyclohexanes; organochlorinepesticides; cyclodiene pesticides; global fractionation; silicone rubber; long-range transport |
| Description | Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are recognized aspollutantsof global concern, but so far, information on the trends of legacyPOPs in the waters of the world has been missing due to logistical,analytical, and financial reasons. Passive samplers have emerged asan attractive alternative to active water sampling methods as theyaccumulate POPs, represent time-weighted average concentrations, andcan easily be shipped and deployed. As part of the AQUA-GAPS/MONET,passive samplers were deployed at 40 globally distributed sites between2016 and 2020, for a total of 21 freshwater and 40 marine deployments.Results from silicone passive samplers showed & alpha;-hexachlorocyclohexane(HCH) and & gamma;-HCH displaying the greatest concentrations in thenorthern latitudes/Arctic Ocean, in stark contrast to the more persistentpenta (PeCB)- and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), which approached equilibriumacross sampling sites. Geospatial patterns of polychlorinated biphenyl(PCB) aqueous concentrations closely matched original estimates ofproduction and use, implying limited global transport. Positive correlationsbetween log-transformed concentrations of & sigma;7PCB,& sigma;DDTs, & sigma;endosulfan, and & sigma;chlordane, but not & sigma;HCH,and the log of population density (p < 0.05) within5 and 10 km of the sampling sites also supported limited transportfrom used sites. These results help to understand the extent of globaldistribution, and eventually time-trends, of organic pollutants inaquatic systems, such as across freshwaters and oceans. Future deploymentswill aim to establish time-trends at selected sites while adding tothe geographical coverage. |
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