Persistent organic pollutants in air from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. (May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Boer, Jacob; van Dijk, Rianne; Abalos, Manoli; Abad, Esteban
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 324(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Subjects: United Nations -- Stockholm Convention -- Global monitoring -- POPs -- Passive air sampling; POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138271
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: In support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) global monitoring plan under the Stockholm Convention concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined during two years in air from 42 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific by using polyurethane foams installed in passive samplers. The compounds included were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), one polybrominated biphenyl and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) diastereomers. Total-DDT and PCBs were the highest in concentrations in about 50% of the samples, which shows their high persistency. Total DDT in air from the Solomon Islands ranged from 200 to 600 ng/polyurethane foam disk (PUF). However, at most locations, a decreasing trend is observed for PCBs, DDT and most other OCPs. Patterns varied per country with e.g. elevated dieldrin in air from Barbados and chlordane in air from the Philippines. A number of OCPs, such as heptachlor and its epoxides, some other chlordanes, mirex and toxaphene have decreased down to almost undetectable levels. PBB153 was hardly found and penta and octa--mix related PBDEs were also relatively low at most locations. HBCD and the decabromodiphenylether were more prominent at many locations and may even still increase. To draw more holistic conclusions more colder climate countries should be included in this program. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Two year global monitoring POPs in air. Persistent organic pollutant data in air from 43 countries. Worldwide, DDT and PCBs are dominant, and decrease slowly. PBDE209 and HBCD are elevated in Africa and Asia and tend to increase. Several organochlorine pesticide levels declined to non-detectable levels.