Atmospheric organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Antarctic marginal seas: Distribution, sources and transportation. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Xiaoguo; Chen, Afeng; Yuan, Zijiao; Kang, Hui; Xie, Zhouqing
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 258(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: OCPs -- PCBs -- Atmosphere -- Antarctica marginal Seas; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127359
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: From November 2013 to March 2014, air samples were collected in the Antarctic marginal seas during the 30th Chinese Antarctic research expedition. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analyzed in these samples. The mean concentrations were observed for hexachlorobenzene (HCB) >ΣPCBs >Σhexachlorocyclohexanes(HCHs) >Σdichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(DDTs)>Σchlordanes. High levels of HCB were found near east Antarctica and in the Ross Sea, reflecting the re-emission of HCB from environmental reservoirs of these regions. Parent DDTs (p, p'- and o, p'-DDT) were rarely detected, suggesting that atmospheric DDT was predominantly influencedby weathered DDT from some secondarysources. However, fresh inputs of DDTs could not be excluded because there were still some samples with high proportions of parent DDTs. HCHs only were detected in the South Indian Ocean (near Australia), andthis result might be related to the intense emissions of HCHs from southern Australia. Ratios of trans-chlordane/cis-chlordanein most samples were lower than that in technical chlordane, reflecting the main influence of weathered chlordane. High levels of ΣPCBs were found in the Ross Sea, suggesting an intense re-emission of PCBs. Furthermore, atmospheric PCBs near the Antarctic Peninsula were also relatively high, this finding might be attributed to the emissions of PCBs from nearby Antarctic research stations. Comparing with the Arctic, transport of OCPs and PCBs towards Antarctica is more difficult. The Antarctic marginal seas would act as both barriers and "buffer zones"during the transportation processes. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: OCPs & PCBs were detected in the atmosphere of Antarctic marginal seas. HCB was the most abundant POPs. OCPs & PCBs in the Antarctic region were lower than those in the Arctic. Antarctic marginal seas act as both barriers and buffer zones.