Comparative study on PCDD/F pollution in soil from the Antarctic, Arctic and Tibetan Plateau

Sci Total Environ. 2014 Nov 1:497-498:353-359. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.07.109. Epub 2014 Aug 17.

Abstract

The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 35 soil samples collected from Fildes Peninsula in the Antarctic, Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic, and Zhangmu-Nyalam in the Tibetan Plateau were reported in this study. A comparison of the total concentration and TEQ of PCDD/Fs at the Three Poles was conducted. Both the total concentration and TEQ of PCDD/Fs demonstrates a decreasing trend in the order of Zhangmu-Nyalam (mean: 26.22 pg/g, 0.37 pg I-TEQ/g)>Ny-Ålesund (mean: 9.97 pg/g, 0.33 pg I-TEQ/g)>Fildes Peninsula (mean: 2.18 pg/g, 0.015 pg I-TEQ/g) (p<0.05). In all samples, the congener and homologue profiles dominated with higher (seven and eight) chlorinated PCDD/Fs (more than 85% of the total mass percentage of PCDD/Fs) at the Three Poles. Finally, a FLEXPART backward simulation was used to preliminarily identify the potential local and regional anthropogenic sources of PCDD/Fs. The results imply that the air masses passing over surrounding regions with significant PCDD/F emissions might contribute to the occurrence of PCDD/Fs in both the Arctic and Tibetan Plateau.

Keywords: FLEXPART model; PCDD/Fs; Soil; Three Poles.

MeSH terms

  • Antarctic Regions
  • Arctic Regions
  • Benzofurans / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analysis
  • Soil / chemistry*
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*
  • Tibet

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • dibenzofuran