Air and Soil Concentrations and Source Identification of Ambient Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Northeastern Mediterranean Region

Abstract

Ambient air and soil samples were taken in Istanbul between November 2012 and May 2013 in order to determine polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations. A high volume air sampler was operated to collect air samples. Soil samples were taken from top of bare land. Air PCB concentrations ranged from 201 to 705 pg m−3 with an average of 360 pg m−3. The dry weight soil PCB concentrations varied from 3.4 to 13.6 ng g−1 with an average of 8.3 ng g−1. The fate of PCBs was investigated through gas/particle partitioning. Further investigation was made between soil and air phases by fugacity fractions. Effect of wind direction was revealed by conditional probability function (CPF). Potential source contribution function was employed to determine the likely distant PCB sources. Di‐chlorinated biphenyls (Di‐CBs) tended to accumulate in soil while 5‐, 7‐, and 8‐CBs volatilized from the soil. According to CPF, 3‐CBs were likely to be released from the Marmara Sea. Additionally, SW wind direction was dominant for Σ‐, 2‐, 5‐, 6‐, 7‐CBs, and concentration of 9‐CBs increased for the winds of NW, N, NE directions. Previously reported hot‐spot zones for iron‐steel manufacturing industry were identified to contribute to PCBs in air masses, arriving from SW direction. Additional contribution was detected when air masses arrived from the north. These sources were from the south of the Ukraine.

The effect of military conflict zone in the Middle East on atmospheric persistent organic pollutant contamination in its north

“…Air masses come over Turkey crossing Ukraine, as well as the coastal regions of Bulgaria and Romania during daytime sampling, and the Black Sea during nighttime sampling (Zemmer et al, 2012). Similar findings were reported by back-trajectory and potential source contribution function analyses for POPs measurement at different sites of Turkey (Kuzu and Saral, 2017;Yenisoy-Karakaş et al, 2012). The source areas associated with the measured ∑ 14 PBDE concentrations in İzmir included northern Africa, southern and eastern Europe (Gungormus et al, 2021).…”

Selected Persistent Organic Pollutants in Ambient Air in Turkey: Regional Sources and Controlling Factors

“…Therefore, it is not possible to investigate historical variation of OCP levels in ambient air of Istanbul. Previously, PCB levels were investigated in ambient air of Istanbul between May 2012 and May, 2013. , The mean level of ∑ 84 PCBs in summer–autumn and winter–spring was reported to be 420 pg/m 3 (88% in gas phase) and 360 pg/m 3 (86% in gas phase), respectively. In the current study, these levels were found to be 117 pg/m 3 (85% in gas phase) in summer-autumn and 15.5 pg/m 3 (74% in gas phase) in winter-spring.…”

“…450 km WNW of Istanbul), ≈10 pg m –3 for ∑ 7 PCBs in the year 2014 . Ukraine, having an intensive steel production industry and yet a significant source of PCBs release also was reported as a potential source to Istanbul for PCBs . Athens, a metropolitan city of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, was also reported to be a source for atmospheric pollutants .…”

“…Historical Variation. 51,52 The mean level of ∑ 84 PCBs in summer−autumn and winter−spring was reported to be 420 pg/m 3 (88% in gas phase) and 360 pg/ m 3 (86% in gas phase), respectively. In the current study, these levels were found to be 117 pg/m 3 (85% in gas phase) in summer-autumn and 15.5 pg/m 3 (74% in gas phase) in winterspring.…”

“…64 Ukraine, having an intensive steel production industry and yet a significant source of PCBs release also was reported as a potential source to Istanbul for PCBs. 52 Athens, a metropolitan city of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, was also reported to be a source for atmospheric pollutants. 65 A wide spreading area over Athens to Izmir, then to Istanbul was also remarkable with a high residence time for sample no.…”