Long-term air monitoring of organochlorine pesticides using Semi Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) in the Alps

W. Levy, B. Henkelmann, G. Pfister, S. Bernhöft, M. Kirchner, G. Jakobi, R. Bassan, N. Kräuchi, K. W. Schramm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Atmospheric sampling of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was conducted using Semi Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) deployed in the Alps at different altitudinal transects for two consecutive exposure periods of half a year and a third simultaneous year-long period. Along all the altitude profiles, the sequestered amounts of OCPs increased in general with altitude. SPMDs were still working as kinetic samplers after half a year for the majority of the OCPs. However, compounds with the lowest octanol-air partition coefficient (K oa), reached equilibrium within six months. This change in the SPMD uptake was determined for the temperature gradient along the altitude profile influencing K oa, OCPs availability in the gaseous phase, and SPMD performance. In sum, it seems two effects are working in parallel along the altitude profiles: the change in SPMD performance and the different availability of OCPs along the altitudinal transects determined by their compound properties and concentrations in air.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3272-3279
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume157
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2009

Keywords

  • Altitude profile
  • Kinetic sampler
  • Organochlorine pesticides
  • SPMD

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