Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Snow Cover of South-Eastern Kazakhstan

Abstract

The presence of large sources of environmental pollution due to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), in particular, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in Kazakhstan necessitates the assessment of pollution as a result of these toxicants. For this purpose, we chose snow cover as an indicator for assessing pollution status in the study area. An assessment of the PCB accumulation level included in the list of POPs was carried out for a snow cover (SC) study in south-east Kazakhstan. The content of PCBs with a wide congener composition was determined using the chromatographic analysis method. During the winter periods of 2014, 2015, 2018–2020 and 2021, the SC pollution of the study area from up to 25 individual PCB congeners was identified. These congeners included highly toxic dioxin-like congener PCBs 105; 108; 114; 118 and “marker” PCBs 52; 101; 138; 153. These congeners were mainly found in snow samples with a wide range of PCB congener compositions. The main PCB pollution sources were indicated. The analysis of the obtained results and structure of the congener composition of PCBs show that the SC contamination in this territory occurs under the influence of local and regional sources.

Spatial and Temporal Variations of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Snow in Eastern Siberia

“…The highest ∑PCB 36 levels were found in the snow from the industrial towns of the southern part of Irkutsk Region (Irkutsk: 68 (44-95) ng/L; Angarsk: 119 (96-142) ng/L; Schelekhovo: 62 ng/L; Baikalsk: 83-102 ng/L; Tcheremkhovo: 44 ng/L; Usol'e-Sibirskoe: 162 (39-628) ng/L). These values were comparable to the levels in the snow cover from urban and industrial areas in Eurasia [44,45] and North America [46]. The mean ∑DDT levels in snow water from the southern part of Irkutsk Region in 2021 were comparable to ∑DDT values in snow sampled in the 1990s in the Arctic and temperate latitudes [40,47] and higher than the levels found in the 2000s in high-mountain areas [7,41] and Antarctica [51].…”

Persistent Organic Pollutants and Suspended Particulate Matter in Snow of Eastern Siberia in 2009–2023: Temporal Trends and Effects of Meteorological Factors and Recultivation Activities at Former Industrial Area

“…The highest total PCB concentrations fall into the range of total PCBs in snow from urban locations (Moscow, Russia: ∑PCB 13 = 280–560 ng/L [ 92 ]; Talgar, Kazakhstan: ∑PCB 16 = 120–800 ng/L [ 93 ]). The medians of total PCBs in snow at two Irkutsk stations were similar to the total PCB levels found in urban snow in the city of Almaty (Kazakhstan) (nd–3790 ng/L in 2014–2020 and 9–71 ng/L in 2018–2020 [ 93 ]) but were higher than those at urban and industrial locations in Canada (0.7–45 ng/L [ 94 ]) and Minneapolis (7.9, 4.6, 1.9 ng/L [ 6 ]). The lowest total PCB levels found in our study were higher than those at rural areas in Finland (0.264, 0.285 ng/L [ 95 ] and remote areas in the mountains of Europe (Pyrenees: 0.22 ng/L; Alps: 0.73, 2.2 ng/L; Tatra Mountains: 0.2 ng/L [ 70 ]) and Asia (Mt.…”

“…The highest total PCB concentrations fall into the range of total PCBs in snow from urban locations (Moscow, Russia: ∑PCB 13 = 280-560 ng/L [92]; Talgar, Kazakhstan: ∑PCB 16 = 120-800 ng/L [93]). The medians of total PCBs in snow at two Irkutsk stations were similar to the total PCB levels found in urban snow in the city of Almaty (Kazakhstan) (nd-3790 ng/L in 2014-2020 and 9-71 ng/L in 2018-2020 [93]) but were higher than those at urban and industrial locations in Canada (0.7-45 ng/L [94]) and Minneapolis (7.9, 4.6, 1.9 ng/L [6]).…”