Evidence of Latitudinal Fractionation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners along the Baltic Sea Region
Author
Summary, in English
Annual cycles of the atmospheric concentrations of PCBs were determined at 16 (mostly rural) stations around the Baltic Sea between 1990 and 1993. The concentration levels of individual congeners were found to be influenced by their physical-chemical properties, ambient temperature, and geographical location. Median levels of PCBs were similar at all stations except at one urban site near Riga. A latitudinal gradient with higher levels in the south was found for the sum of PCB as well as for individual congeners, and the gradient was more pronounced for the low volatility congeners. As a result, the high volatility congeners increased in relative importance with latitude. Generally, PCB concentrations increased with temperature, but slopes of the partial pressure in air versus reciprocal temperature were different between congeners and between stations. In general, the low volatility congeners were more temperature dependent than the high volatility PCB congeners. Steep slopes at a sampling location indicate that the concentration in air is largely determined by diffusive exchange with soils. Lack of a temperature dependence may be due to the influence of long-range transported air masses at remote sites and due to the episodic or random nature of PCB sources at urban sites.
Department/s
Publishing year
1999
Language
English
Pages
1149-1156
Publication/Series
Environmental Science & Technology
Volume
33
Issue
8
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
The American Chemical Society (ACS)
Topic
- Ecology
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1520-5851