SO-MUM: A Coupled Atmospheric Transport and Multimedia Model Used to Predict Intraurban-Scale PCB and PBDE Emissions and Fate

Abstract

A spatially resolved, dynamic version of the Multimedia Urban Model (MUM) and the boundary layer forecast and air pollution transport model BLFMAPS were coupled to build Spatially Oriented MUM (SO-MUM), to estimate emissions and fate of POPs in an urban area on a 5 × 5 km(2) cell resolution. SO-MUM was used to back-calculate emissions from spatially resolved measured air concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs in Toronto, Canada. Estimated emissions of Σ(88)PCBs were 230 (40-480) kg y(-1), 280 (50-580) g y(-1) km(-2), or 90 (16-190) mg y(-1) capita(-1), and Σ(26)PBDEs were 28 (6-63) kg y(-1), 34 (7-77) g y(-1) km(-2), or 11 (2-25) mg y(-1) capita(-1). A mass inventory of penta- and octa-BDEs in Toronto was estimated to be 200 tonnes (90-1000 tonnes) or 80 (40-400) g capita(-1). Using this estimate and that of 440 (280-800) tonnes of PCBs, estimated emissions of Σ(88)PCBs and Σ(26)PBDEs per mass of chemical inventory in Toronto were 0.5 (0.05-1.6) and 0.1 (0.01-0.7) g y(-1) kg(-1), respectively. The results suggest annual emission rates of 0.04% and 0.01% from the mass inventories with downtown accounting for 30% and 16% of Toronto's chemical inventory and emissions of PCBs and PBDEs, respectively. Since total PBDE emissions are a function of mass inventory, which is proportional to building volume, we conclude that building volume can be used as a proxy to predict emissions. Per mass inventory emission rates were negatively related to vapor pressure within a compound class, but not consistently when considering all compound congeners.

Environmental fate and exposure models: advances and challenges in 21st century chemical risk assessment

“…Two complementary approaches have been employed to estimate the emission source strength of chemicals used in technical applications and consumer products. The rst is the bottom-up approach that was pioneered by Breivik et al [32][33][34] to estimate the emissions of PCBs globally, and applied by Diamond and colleagues [35][36][37] for the city of Toronto. Other bottomup emission inventories have been compiled by Wang et al 38 for PFCAs, by Glüge et al 39 for chlorinated paraffins, Li et al 40 for a-HCH, and by Zhang and Tao for 16 PAHs.…”

Exploring the planetary boundary for chemical pollution

“…Examples of the "20%" include long-term emissions from tailings, waste rock piles, nuclear waste repositories, abandoned industrial sites, and numerous landfills in developing countries (Turk et al, 2007;Torres et al, 2013;Weber et al, 2011). One example of long-term emissions from an in-use chemical stock is that of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, listed as a POP under the Stockholm Convention) from equipment that was still in use in Canada in 2006 despite the ban on PCB production nearly 40 years ago (Diamond et al, 2010;Csiszar et al, 2013). Another example is that of CFCs contained in blown building insulation that is subject to uncontrolled releases as the generation of buildings using that foam undergoes renovation or destruction over the next 30 years (Brunner and Rechberger, 2001) Similar (Schmidt, 2006;Gottesfeld and Cherry, 2011).…”

Fingerprint analysis of brominated flame retardants and Dechloranes in North Sea sediments

“…Due to the fact that flame retardants are largely applied in consumer products and building materials, areas with large population or industry (such as harbours) are potential emission hotspots (Csiszar et al, 2013). Rivers, like Elbe and Weser, passing such potential emission hotspots can therefore be expected to represent recent emissions, such as the substitutes for PBDEs, or Table 1 Average concentrations in pg g À 1 dw of the detected Ʃ 5PBDEs , BDE-209, MeOBDEs, total of detected alternate BFRs (TBP-AE, BATE, TBP-DBPE, EH-TBB, HBB, PBEB, TBA), total of detected Dechloranes (DBALD, DDC-DBF, syn-DP, anti-DP, HCPN), TBBPA, total HBCDD (α-,β-,γ-HBCDD) as well as fsyn (contribution of synDP to the total DP (syn-þ antiDP) concentration), total organic carbon (TOC) [%] and sampling depth [m] in the investigation areas Northern UK coast (ia1), Southern UK coast (ia2), East Frisian Coast (ia3), Jade/Weser (ia4) German Bight (ia5) and river Elbe (ia6).…”