Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in the lower troposphere of the North- and South-Atlantic Ocean

Studies of global baseline pollution XVII

  • Original Papers
  • Environmental Analysis
  • Published:
Fresenius' Journal of Analytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Fourteen polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were quantified in air samples of the tropospheric boundary layer of the Atlantic Ocean. The samples were taken on the German research vessel “Polarstern” during north-south cruises across the Atlantic Ocean (1990, 1991), and on the Capo Verde islands in the North Atlantic Ocean (1992). Values for the sum of PCB were between 48 pg/m3 (values for the seven indicator congeners were [in pg/m3]: PCB 28: 1.3; PCB 52: 5.0; PCB 101: 3.0; PCB 118: ≤0.5; PCB 138: 1; PCB 153: 1; PCB 180: <0.2) in the Westwind Belt of the eastern North Atlantic and 22 pg/m3 (values for the seven indicator congeners were [in pg/m3]: PCB 28: 2.3; PCB 52: 3.4; PCB 101: ≤0.5; PCB 118: <0.2; PCB 138: <0.2; PCB 153: <0.2; PCB 180: <0.2) in the Westwind Belt of the central South Atlantic. Up to 385 pg/m3 (values for the seven indicator congeners were [in pg/m3]: PCB 28: 2.6; PCB 52: 11.7; PCB 101: 28.4; PCB 118: 9; PCB 138: 21; PCB 153: 18; PCB 180: 5.5) were measured of the coast of South Patagonia. A difference depending on latitude and on terrestrial influenced air masses between the lower and the higher chlorinated congeners was observed. The levels of three- and tetrachlorinated congeners were highest in the Trade Wind regions. The contents of the higher chlorinated congeners had maxima in samples influenced by continental air masses. A correlation of the levels of the lower chlorinated congeners in air over the South Atlantic with the surface water temperature and thus with the temperature dependent gas/water partition coefficient Kgw was observed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Atlas EL, Schauffler S (1990) In: Kurtz DA (ed) Long range transport of pesticides. Lewis, Chelsa, Michigan, pp 161–184

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bidleman TF, Atlas EL, Atkinson R, Bonsang B, Burns K, Keene WC, Knap AH, Miller J, Rudolph J, Tanabe S (1990) In: Knap AH (ed) The long-range atmospheric transport of natural and contaminant substances. Kluwer, Dordrecht Boston London, pp 259–301

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ballschmiter K (1992) Angew Chem 104:501–528; Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 31:487–515

    Google Scholar 

  4. Schwarzenbach RP, Gschwend PN, Imboden DM (1993) Environmental organic chemistry. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mackay D, Paterson S, Cheung B, Neely WB (1985) Chemosphere 14:335–374; Mackay D (1991) Multimedia environmental models: the fugacity approach. Lewis, Chelsa, Michigan

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ballschmiter K (1979) Nachr Chem Tech Lab 27:542–546; ibid (1985) 33:206–208

    Google Scholar 

  7. Achman DR, Hornbuckle KC, Eisenreich SJ (1993) Environ Sci Technol 27:75–87; ibid 27:87–98

    Google Scholar 

  8. Zell M, Neu HJ, Ballschmiter K (1978) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 292:97–107; ibid 293:193–200

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gregor DJ, Gummer WD (1989) Environ Sci Technol 23:561–565

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ballschmiter K, Zell M (1980) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 302:20–31

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wittlinger R, Ballschmiter K (1987) Chemosphere 16:2497–2513

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wittlinger R, Ballschmiter K (1990) Fresenius J Anal Chem 336:193–200

    Google Scholar 

  13. Oehme M, Stray H (1982) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 311:665–673

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jansson B, Vaz R, Blomkvist G, Jensen S, Olsson M (1979) Chemosphere 4:181–190

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ballschmiter K, Mennel A, Buyten J (1993) Fresenius J Anal Chem 346:396–402

    Google Scholar 

  16. de Boer J, Dao QT (1991) J High Res Chrom 14:593–596

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ballschmiter K (1991) Environ Carcino and Ecotox Revs C9:1–46

    Google Scholar 

  18. Atlas E, Bidleman TF, Giam CS (1986) In: Waid JS (ed) PCBs and the Environment, CRC, Boca Raton, pp 79–100

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tanabe S, Tatsukawa R (1986) In: Waid JS (ed) PCBs and the Environment, CRC, Boca Raton, pp 143–161

    Google Scholar 

  20. Slemr F, Langer E (1992) Nature 355:434–437

    Google Scholar 

  21. Schulz DE, Petrick G, Duinker JC (1989) Environ Sci Technol 23:852–859

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ballschmiter K (1988) In: Fresenius W, Günzler H, Huber W, Kelker H, Lüderwald I, Tölg G, Wisser H (eds) Analytiker Taschenbuch. Vol 7, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 393–432

    Google Scholar 

  23. Tiernan TO, Taylor ML, Garrett JH, van Ness GF, Solchy G, Dais DA, Wagel DJ (1983) Chemosphere 12:595–606

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ballschmiter K, Zoller W, Scholz C, Nottrodt A (1983) Chemosphere 12:585–594

    Google Scholar 

  25. Schäfer W, Ballschmiter K (1986) Chemosphere 15:755–763

    Google Scholar 

  26. Schreiner M, Spitzhüttl E, Vierle O (1986) Chemopshere 15:2093–2097

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ballschmiter K, Niemczyk R, Schäfer W, Zoller W (1987) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 328:583–587

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ballschmiter K, Schäfer W, Buchert H (1987) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 326:253–257

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hutzinger O, Safe S, Zitko V (1974) The Chemistry of PCBs. CRC, Cleveland

    Google Scholar 

  30. Slemr F, Langer E (personal communication)

  31. Zell M, Neu HJ, Ballschmiter K (1977) Chemosphere 6:69–76

    Google Scholar 

  32. Schreitmüller J, Ballschmiter K (unpublished results)

  33. Schreitmüller J, Ballschmiter K (1992) Poster presented at 12th International Symposium on Dioxins and Related Compounds, 24.–28. August, Tampere, Finland. Schreitmüller J, Ballschmiter K (1993) Poster presented at Symposium on Methods and Improvements on Analytical Chemistry ANAKON '93, 19.–21. April, Baden-Baden, Germany

  34. Meteorological Office of RV “Polarstern” (1990) Weather Reports

  35. Tateya S, Tanabe S, Tatsukawa R (1988) In: Schmitdke NW (ed) Toxic contamination in large lakes. Lewis, Michigan, pp 237–28116

    Google Scholar 

  36. Church TM, Tramantano JM, Whelpdale DM, Andreae MO, Galloway JN, Keene WC, Knap AH, Tokos J (1991) J Geophys Res A 96:18705–18725

    Google Scholar 

  37. Pankow JF, McKenzie SW (1991) Environ Sci Technol 25:2046–2053

    Google Scholar 

  38. Pavlou SP, Dexter RN (1979) Environ Sci Technol 13:65–71

    Google Scholar 

  39. Hiraizumi Y, Takahashi M, Nishimura H (1979) Environ Sci Technol 13:581–584

    Google Scholar 

  40. Duinker JC (1986) Netherlands J Sea Res 20:229–238

    Google Scholar 

  41. Helmers E, Schulz-Baldes M (1992) Labor 2000. Eine Sonderpublikation der Labor Praxis 91/92. Vogel, Würzburg, pp 6–11

    Google Scholar 

  42. Lara R, Ernst W (1989) Chemosphere 19:1655–1664

    Google Scholar 

  43. Sabljic A, Lara R, Ernst W (1989) Chemosphere 19:1665–1676

    Google Scholar 

  44. Head PC (1976) In: Burton JD, Liss PS (eds) Estuarine Chemistry, Academic Press, New York, p 58

    Google Scholar 

  45. Bidleman TF, Christensen EJ, Billings WN, Leonard R (1981) J Mar Res 39:443–464

    Google Scholar 

  46. Knap AH, Binkley KS (1991) Atmos Environ 25A:1507–1516

    Google Scholar 

  47. Bidleman TF, Cotham WE, Addison RF, Zinck ME (1992) Chemosphere 24:1389–1412

    Google Scholar 

  48. Hargrave BT, Vass WP, Erickson PE, Fowler BR (1988) Tellus 40B:480–493

    Google Scholar 

  49. Patton GW, Hinckley DA, Walla MD, Bidleman TF (1989) Tellus 41B:243–255

    Google Scholar 

  50. GESAMP, Joint Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution Rep Stud-GESAMP 1989, No 38, 1–111

  51. Sanders G, Jones KC, Hamilton-Taylor J, Dörr H (1992) Environ Sci Technol 26:1815–1821

    Google Scholar 

  52. Rapaport RA, Eisenreich JS (1988) Environ Sci Technol 22:931–941

    Google Scholar 

  53. Brodsky J, Ballschmiter K (1988) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 331:295–301

    Google Scholar 

  54. Fischer RC, Wittlinger R, Ballschmiter K (1992) Fresenius J Anal Chem 342:421–425

    Google Scholar 

  55. Brunner S, Hornung E, Santl H, Wolff E, Piringer OG, Altschuh J, Brüggemann R (1990) Environ Sci Technol 24:1751–1754

    Google Scholar 

  56. Atkinson R (1987) Environ Sci Technol 21:305–307

    Google Scholar 

  57. Kirst GO, Wolff H, Thiel C, University of Bremen, Germany (personal communication)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89081, Ulm, Germany

    Jörn Schreitmüller & Karlheinz Ballschmiter

Authors
  1. Jörn Schreitmüller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karlheinz Ballschmiter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Part XVI: Fischer RC, Krämer W, Ballschmiter K (1991) Chemosphere 23:889–900

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schreitmüller, J., Ballschmiter, K. Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in the lower troposphere of the North- and South-Atlantic Ocean. Fresenius J Anal Chem 348, 226–239 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325365

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325365

Keywords

Search

Navigation