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Persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere from urban and industrial environments in the Rhine Valley: PCBs, PCDD/Fs

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Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzodioxin and furan (PCDD/F) concentrations in the atmosphere were analysed using passive air samplers (PAS) close to the Rhine River between France and Germany. Collectors were placed in industrial, urban, rural and remote areas (Vosges Mountains) between March 2009 and August 2010, and the mean PCB concentrations (sum of 22 congeners) were 3.3, 3.9, 4.1 and 1.4 ng PAS−1 day−1, respectively. Two events during the sampling period were observed in April 2009 and February–March 2010 with the highest PCB concentrations found in the industrial area (19.6 ng PAS−1 day−1). PCDD/F level were measured during these periods, and the maximum concentration observed was from 37.5 fg WHO PAS−1 day−1

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Acknowledgments

This study has been financially supported by a thesis grant from the “Conseil Régional d’Alsace (France)” to F.G., by Projets Exploratoires Pluridisciplinaires; Département Environnement et Développement Durable, by the city of Kehl (Germany) and by Réseau Alsace de Laboratoires en Ingénierie et Sciences pour l’Environnement (France). This is EOST contribution no......UMR7517.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Equipe de Physico-Chimie de l’Atmosphère—Laboratoire Matériaux, Surfaces et Procédés pour la Catalyse—(UMR 7515 CNRS—Université de Strasbourg)—1, Rue Blessig, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    Florence Guéguen & Maurice Millet

  2. Laboratoire D’Hydrologie et de Géochimie de Strasbourg (LHyGeS), (UMR 7517 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg)—1, Rue Blessig, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    Florence Guéguen & Peter Stille

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  1. Florence Guéguen
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  2. Peter Stille
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  3. Maurice Millet
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Correspondence to Maurice Millet.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Guéguen, F., Stille, P. & Millet, M. Persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere from urban and industrial environments in the Rhine Valley: PCBs, PCDD/Fs. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 3852–3862 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1328-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1328-8

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