Dynamics of atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Concentrations, patterns, partitioning, and dry deposition level estimations in a residential site of Turkey

Abstract

Air samples were collected at a residential site (Gulbahce, Bursa, Turkey) between August 2004 and April 2005 using a modified high volume air sampler. The mean of gas and particle phase concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were 468 +/-297 and 43 +/-37 pgm(-3) (average +/-standard deviation, SD), respectively. The dominated PCB homologs were 3-CBs, 4-CBs, and 5-CBs. The measured PCB concentrations were higher than the values of pristine sites. In order to assess the gas/particle partitioning fate, log K(P)-log P(L)(o), log KP-log K(OA) and the Junge-Pankow model were applied to the data. Experimental K(P) was well correlated with log P(L)(o) and log K(OA) at p < 0.05. Then, dry deposition fluxes were estimated using atmospheric concentrations and dry deposition velocities obtained from literature. A correlation matrix was formed for PCB homologs including 27 congeners with concurrently measured 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and meteorological parameters. Most of PAH compounds were significantly correlated with 5-CBs and 6-CBs.