Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Seasonal Fate of PCBs in Ambient Air and Atmospheric Deposition in Northern France

  • Published:
Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as Σ21 congeners, were investigated in atmospheric bulk deposition over one year, along a northern transect of France, including 5 sites from the Atlantic coast to the east of Paris. Evidence was obtained for an easterly rise of the PCB concentrations, from 3 to 76 ng L−1. The PCB patterns were depleted in low chlorinated congeners in rural areas whereas at urban sites, the profiles were typical of local sources. The seasonal variations of concentrations were mainly controlled by the temperature. Next, at Paris, PCB distribution between the gaseous and the particulate phases was studied, considering seasonal parameters and different fate processes. Their distribution showed a prevalence of congeners in the gaseous phase (0.15–1.17 ng m−3) which occurrence decreased from 93 to 68% with the rise of congener chlorination level. In the particulate phase, they ranged from 0.01 to 0.27 ng m−3, only. Rainwater concentrations ranged from 3.1 to 13.1 ng L−1. A total rain water/air washout ratio was determined and showed a negative correlation with those reported in the literature. That might be attributed to the importance of particle scavenging. The annual bulk deposition ranged from 8 to 29 μg m−2. A decreasing trend of PCB atmospheric levels over the last fifteen years was confirmed in the studied area.

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

  • Alcock, R. E., Gemmil, R., and Jones, K., 1999: Improvements to the UK PCDD/F and PCB atmospheric emission inventory following an emission measurement programme, Chemosphere 38, 759–770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, P. N. and Hites, A. H., 1996: OH radical reactions: The major removal pathway for polychlorinated biphenyls from the atmosphere, Environ. Sci. Technol. 30, 1756–1763.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Backe, C., Larsson, P., and Okla, L., 2000: Polychlorinated biohenyls in the air of southern Sweden – spatial and temporal variation, Atmospheric Environment 34, 1481–1486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Backe, C., Larsson, P., and Agrell, C., 2002: Spatial and temporal variation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in precipitation en southern Sweden, The Science of the total Environment 285, 117–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bamford, H. A., Poster, D. L., and Baker, J. E., 2000: Henry's law constants of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and their variation with temperature, J. Chem. Eng. Data 45, 1069–1074.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, M., Teil, M. J., Carru, A. M., Ollivon, D., Garban, B., Chesterikoff, A., and Chevreuil, M., 1999: PCB and PAH impacts on cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidases in roach (Rutilus rutilus) from the river Seine, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 37, 242–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breivik, K., Sweetman, A., Pacyna, J. M., and Jones, K. C., 2002: Towards a global historical emission inventory for selected PCB congeners – a mass balance approach. 2. Emissions, The Science of the total Environment 290, 199–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breivik, K., Alcock, R., Li, Y. F., Bailey, R. E., Fiedler, H., and Pacyna, J. M., 2004: Primary sources of selected POPs: Regional and global scale emission inventories, Environmental Pollution 128, 3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brorström-Lundén, E., 1996: Atmospheric deposition of persistent organic compounds to the sea surface, J. of Sea Res. 35, 81–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brunciak, P. A., Dachs, J., Gigliotti, C. L., Nelson, E. D., and Eisenrich, S. J., 2001: Atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations and apparent degradation in coastal New Jersey, Atmospheric Environment 35, 3325–3339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brunciak, P. A., Dachs, J., Franz, T. P., Gigliotti, C. L., Nelson, E. D., Turpin, B. J., and Eisenrich, S. J., 2001: Polychlorinated biphenyls and particulate organic/elemental carbon in the atmosphere of Chesapeake Bay, USA, Atmospheric Environment 35, 5663–5677.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chate, D. M., Rao, P. S. P., Naik, M. S., Momin, G. A., Safai, P. D., and Ali, K., 2003: Scavenging of aerosols and their chemical species by rain, Atmospheric Environment 37, 2477–2484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, P. J., Lee, R. G. M., Alcock, R. E., and Jones, K. I., 1997: Observations on PAH, PCB and PCDD/F trends in U.K. urban air 1991–1995, Environ. Sci. Technol. 31, 2120–2124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Currado, G. M. and Harrad, S., 2000: Factors influencing atmospheric concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls in Birmingham, UK, Environ. Sci. Technol. 34, 78–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Escofier, B. and Pages, J., 1998: In Analyses factorielles simples et multiples. Objectifs, methodes et interpretations. Ed. Dunod, Paris (France), p 284.

  • Falandysz, J., Wyrzykowska, B., Warzocha, J., Barska, I., Garbacik-Wesolowska, A., and Szefer, P., 2004: Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in perch Perca fluviatilis from the Odra/Oder river estuary, Baltic Sea, Food Chemistry 87, 17–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granier, L. K. and Chevreuil, M., 1997: Behaviour and spatial and temporal variations of polychlorinated biphenyls and lindane in the urban atmosphere of the Paris area, France, Atmospheric Environment 31, 3787–3802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gingrich, S. A., Diamond, M. I., Stern, G. A., and McCarry, B. E., 2001: Atmospherically derived organic surface films along an urban-rural gradient, Environ. Sci. Technol. 35, 4031–4037.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halsall, C. J., 2004: Investigating the occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the arctic: their atmospheric behaviour and interaction with the seasonal snow pack. Environmental Pollution 128, 163–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harner, T. and Bidleman, T. F., 1998: Octanol-air partition for describing particle/gas partitioning of aromatic compound in urban air, Environ. Sci. Technol. 32, 1494–1502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrad, S. and Mao, H., 2004: Atmospheric PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Birmingham, UK: concentrations, sources, temporal and seasonal trends, Atmospheric Environment 38, 1437–1445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermanson, M. H., Scholten C. A., and Compher K., 2003: Variable air temperature response of gas-phase atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls near a former manufacturing facility, Environ. Sci. Technol. 37, 4038–4042.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillery, B. R., Basu, I., Sweet, C. W., and Hites, R. A., 1997: Temporal and spatial trends in a long-term study of gas-phase PCB concentrations near the Great Lakes, Environ. Sci. Technol. 31, 1811–1816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaward, F. M., Farrar, N. J., Harner, T., Sweetman, A. J., and Jones K. C., 2004. Passive air sampling of PCBs, PBDEs and organochlorine pesticides across Europe, Environ. Sci. Technol. 38, 34–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Junge, C. E., 1977: Basic considerations about trace constituent in the atmosphere as related to the fate of global pollutants, I.H. Suffet (ed.), In Fate of Pollutants in the Air and Water Environment, pp. 7–25. Wiley Interscience, New York.

  • Kaupp, H. and McLachlan, M., 1999: Gas/particle partitioning of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PCNs and PAHs, Chemosphere 38, 3411–3421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, R. C. and Jones, K. C., 1999: The influence of meteorology and air masses on daily atmospheric PCB and PAH concentrations at a UK location, Environ. Sci. Technol. 33, 705–712.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ligocki, M. P., Leuenberger, C., and Pankow, J. F. 1985: Trace organic compounds in rain-II. Gas scavenging of neutral organic compounds, Atmospheric Environment 19, 1609–1617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandalakis, M., Tsapakis, M., Tsoga, A., and Stephanou, E. G. 2002: Gas-particle concentrations and distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbons, PAHs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs in the atmosphere of Athens (Greece), Atmospheric Environment 36, 4023–4035.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meijer, S. N., Ockenden, W. A., Steinnes, E., Corrigan, B. P., and Jones, K. C. 2003: Spatial and temporal trends of POPs in Norvegian and U K background air: implications for global cycling, Environ. Sci. Technol. 37, 454–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, S. M., Green, M., Depinto, J. V., and Hornbuckle, K. C., 2001: Results from the Lake Michigan mass balance study: concentrations and fluxes of atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls and trans-nonachlor, Environ. Sci. Technol. 35, 278–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montone, R. C., Taniguchi, S., and Weber, R. R., 2003: PCBs in the atmosphere of King George Island, Antarctica, The Science of the Total Environment 308, 167–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, T. J., Mullin, M. D., and Meyer, J. A., 1987: The equilibration of PCBs and toxaphene with air and water, Environ. Sci. Technol 21, 155–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, E. D., McConnell, L. L., and Baker, J. E. 1998: Diffusive exchange of gaseous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls across the air-water interface of the Chesapeake Bay, Environ. Sci. Technol. 32, 912–919.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Offenberg, J. H. and Baker, J. E., 1997: Polychlorinated biphenyls in Chicago precipitation: Enhanced wet deposition to near-shore Lake Michigan, Environ. Sci. Technol. 31, 1534–1538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J. S., Wade, T. L., and Sweet, S. T., 2002: Atmospheric deposition of PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides to Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, Atmospheric Environment 36, 1707–1720.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimmo, M., Saarnio, K., Aalto, P., Hartonen, K., Hyötyläinen, T., Kulmala, M., and Riekkola, M. L., 2004: Particle size distribution and gas-particle partition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Helsinki urban area, Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 47, 223–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simcik, M. F., Zhanc, H., Eisenrich, S. J., and Franz T. P., 1997: Urban contamination of the Chicago/coastal Lake Michigan atmosphere by PCBs and PAHs during AEOLOS, Environ. Sci. Technol. 31, 2141–2147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simcik, M. F., 2004: The importance of surface adsorption on the washout of semi-volatile organic compounds by rain, Atmospheric Environment 38, 491–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweetman, A. J. and Jones, K. C., 2000: Declining PCB concentrations in the U.K. atmosphere: evidence and possible causes, Environ. Sci. Technol. 34, 863–869.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teil M. J., Blanchard M., and Chevreuil, M., 2004: Atmospheric deposition of organochlorines (PCBs and pesticides) in Northern France, Chemosphere 55, 501–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tasdemir, Y., Odabasi, M., Vardar, N., Sofuoglu, A., Murphy, J., and Holsen, T. M., 2004: Dry deposition fluxes and velocities of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) associated with particles, Atmospheric Environment 38, 2447–2456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Totten, L. A., Eisenrich, S. J., and Brunciak, P. A., 2002: Evidence for destruction of PCBs by the OH radical in urban atmospheres, Chemosphere 47, 735–746.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Heuvel, M., Munkittrick, K. R., Stegeman, J. J., and Dickson, G., 1995: Second-round interlaboratory comparison of hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) exposed to bleach-kraft pulp mill effluent, Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 14, 1513–1520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Gerven, T., Geysen, D., and Vandecasteele, C., 2004: Estimation of the contribution of a municipal waste incinerator to the overall emission and human intake of PCBs in Wilrijk, Flanders, Chemosphere 54, 1303–1308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villa, S., Vighi, M., Maggi, V., Finizio, A., and Bolzacchini, E., 2003: Historical trends of organochlorine pesticides in an alpine glacier, Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 46, 295–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wania, F., Haugen, J. E., Lei, Y. D., and Mackay, D., 1998: Temperature dependence of atmospheric concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds, Environ. Sci. Technol. 32, 1013–1021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamasaki, H., Kuwata, K., and Miyamoto, H., 1982: Effects of ambient temperature on aspects of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 189–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeo H. G., Choi M., Chun M. Y., and Sunwoo Y. 2003: Gas/particle concentrations and partitioning of PCBs in the atmosphere of Korea, Atmospheric Environment 37, 3561–3570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeo, H. G., Choi, M., Chun, M. Y., Kim, T. W., Cho, K. C., and Sunwoo, Y., 2004: Concentration characteristics of atmospheric PCBs for urban and rural area, Korea, The Science of the Total Environment 324, 261–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Hydrologie et Environnement, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, UMR 7619 Sisyphe, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Tour 56–46, 4 Place Jussieu, Box 105, 75252, Paris Cedex 05, France

    M. Blanchard, M. J. Teil & M. Chevreuil

Authors
  1. M. Blanchard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. J. Teil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Chevreuil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Blanchard.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Blanchard, M., Teil, M.J. & Chevreuil, M. The Seasonal Fate of PCBs in Ambient Air and Atmospheric Deposition in Northern France. J Atmos Chem 53, 123–144 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-006-1321-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-006-1321-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation