Analysis of PCB levels in snow from the Aconcagua Mountain (Southern Andes) using the stir bar sorptive extraction

Quiroz, Roberto; Popp, Peter; Barra, Ricardo

doi:10.1007/s10311-008-0164-z

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…However, the analysis of PCBs in glacier ice is challenging because of the ultratrace concentrations and the demanding sample preparation, prone to contamination and/or losses. Therefore, only a few data sets of PCB concentrations in annual snow accumulation have been published. − To our knowledge, there is only one ice record from a mountain glacier documenting the entire time period of industrial use of PCBs, and this record is from Svalbard in the Arctic …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 1. Deposition History from an Alpine Ice Core

Pavlova

Schmid

Bogdal

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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We present a highly time-resolved historical record of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from an Alpine ice core (Fiescherhorn glacier, Switzerland). Introduced in the 1940s, PCBs were widely used industrial chemicals. Because of their persistence they are still found in the environment, long after their production phase-out. The Fiescherhorn ice core record covers the entire time period of industrial use of PCBs, that is, 1940-2002. The total concentration of six PCBs varies from 0.5 to 5 ng L(-1) and reveals a temporal trend, with an 8-fold increase from the early 1940s to the peak value in the 1970s. The level in 2002 is comparable to the concentration in the 1940s, when PCBs were introduced into the market. The time trend of PCBs associated with the particulate fraction closely follows the trend found in the dissolved fraction, but the absolute values are a factor of 10 lower. In addition to changing emissions, fluctuations in the PCB record were explained by variabilty in convective transport and postdepositional processes such as surface melting. Concentrations of PCBs are in agreement with data from seasonal snow samples in the Alps, but are a factor of 100 higher than concentrations measured in the Arctic. Contrasting time trends and congener patterns between the Alpine and Arctic region indicate the importance of atmospheric transport and postdepositional effects.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 1. Deposition History from an Alpine Ice Core

Pavlova

Schmid

Bogdal

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Studies, such as that of Quiroz et al (2009), have shown the presence of anthropogenic pollution in the Aconcagua valley, which is located very close to the main highway that links Chile and Argentina, with very large flow of trucks, buses and cars, throughout the year. During winter, it is visually evident that black carbon and dust particles associated with traffic deposit over the snow in the ski resort of Portillo, on the Chilean side.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Transport of Urban Pollution in an Andean Mountain Valley

Cordova

Arevalo

Marı́n

et al. 2016

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Urban pollution can often impact surrounding, non-urban regions, through advection and dispersal of pollutants by the prevailing winds. Urban regions located upstream of high mountains, such as the Andes, can potentially impact the cryosphere by deposition of particles onto the surface of the snowpack and glaciers.Santiago, the capital of Chile, has more than 6 million inhabitants and regularly experiences episodes of severe pollution, particularly during the austral winter. Some studies have hypothesized that particle pollution from Santiago can reach the cryosphere downwind of the city, but the scarcity of measurements made high in the mountains prevents the validation of mesoscale models so the proof of actual impact remains elusive. A research project was designed to provide some insight into this question. The Pollution Impact on Snow in the Cordillera -Experiments and Simulations (PISCES) project was carried out in 2014 and includes both observational and modeling components. A five-week field campaign was conducted at the end of winter, at an elevated site in a mountain valley, 65 km to the southeast of the center of Santiago, to characterize some aspects of particulate pollution.During synoptic conditions that result in clear days at the site, the mesoscale mountain-valley circulation is effective in transporting pollutants upwards during the day, leading to diluted particle concentrations beyond the summits of the highest peaks. Cloudy days with reduced up-valley circulation do not show increased concentrations associated with transport. Back trajectories indicate that air masses reaching the site during the field campaign are seldom influenced by pollution from Santiago.

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“…Quiroz et al (2009) analyzed snow samples from the mountains of Aconcagua in the Southern Andes in January 2003 to determine PCBs. Sampling was carried out at 3,500, 4,300, 5,000, 5,800, and 6,200 m above sea level.…”

Section: Mountain Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snow Samples as Markers of Air Pollution in Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Lebedev

Mazur

Polyakova

et al. 2014

Environmental Indicators

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Snow can store with minimal further modifications the air born pollutants carried by winds over long distances. The "Cold Finger" phenomenon carries the pollutants from warmer zones toward cold ones i.e., to Polar Regions and high mountains. This automatic natural sample storage keeps them in fall out layers. Mass spectrometry provides information not only on the structures of the pollutants but also on their relations and sources. This issue helps in the analysis of even distant sources of pollution, as well as the problems of transboundary transfer. Both targeted and non-targeted analyses are applicable. Examples are given to illustrate the values of these technologies in the identification of distant pollution sources in Antarctica, Canada, Greenland, Finland, Russia, etc.

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Analysis of PCB levels in snow from the Aconcagua Mountain (Southern Andes) using the stir bar sorptive extraction

Cited by 17 publications

References 21 publications

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 1. Deposition History from an Alpine Ice Core

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 1. Deposition History from an Alpine Ice Core

On the Transport of Urban Pollution in an Andean Mountain Valley

Snow Samples as Markers of Air Pollution in Mass Spectrometry Analysis

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