Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Persistent organic pollutants in tropical coastal and offshore environment: part A—atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Air samples were collected at four sites from August 2009 to May 2010. Temporal variation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations showed the highest concentration in November and the lowest in May, except for one case attributable to a specific meteorological event, a typhoon, which resulted in a dramatic increase in PAHs concentrations. PAH compositional pattern, diagnostic ratios, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis indicated that the major sources of PAHs in the Gaoping coastal area were local vehicle emissions, stationary sources, and coal/wood combustion. In addition, the distinct compositional patterns at each sampling site suggested that sources of PAHs varied with sampling periods. Back trajectory analysis indicated that transport pathway and moving speed of air parcels were two important factors that influence temporal and spatial variation of PAH concentrations. Air parcel pathways and PAH compositional patterns also indicated that PAHs observed at an offshore island (Liu-Chiu Isle) in November were affected by sources in the southwest coastal area of Taiwan. The data set of PAH concentrations built in this study provides useful information to estimate air–water exchange behavior of PAHs and to investigate the fate of PAHs in the Gaoping coastal area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agrell C, Larsson P, Okla L, Agrell J (2002) PCB congeners in precipitation, wash out ratios and depositional fluxes within the Baltic Sea region, Europe. Atmos Environ 36:371–383

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castro-Jiménez J, Mariani G, Vives I, Skejo H, Umlauf G, Zaldívar JM, Dueri S, Messiaen G, Laugier T (2011) Atmospheric concentrations, occurrence and deposition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in a Mediterranean coastal site (Etang de Thau, France). Environ Pollut 159:1948–1956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Central Weather Bureau Taiwan (2012) http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V6/index.htm. Accessed 12 Aug 2012

  • Draxler RR, Hess GD (1997) Description of the HYSPLIT_4 modeling system. NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL ARL-224, NOAA Air Resources Laboratory, MD

  • Draxler RR, Hess GD (1998) An overview of the HYSPLIT_4 modeling system of trajectories, dispersion, and deposition. Aust Meteorol Mag 47:295–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutton JA (1976) Aperiodic trajectories and stationary points in a three-component spectral model of atmospheric flow. J Atmos Sci 33:1499–1504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang M-D, Ko F-C, Baker JE, Lee C-L (2008) Seasonality of diffusive exchange of polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene across the air–sea interface of Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan. Sci Total Environ 407:548–565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang M-D, Lee C-L, Jiang J-J, Ko F-C, Baker JE (2012) Diffusive exchange of PAHs across the air–water interface of the Kaohsiung Harbor lagoon, Taiwan. J Environ Manag 110:179–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gigliotti CL, Totten LA, Offenberg JH, Dachs J, Reinfelder JR, Nelson ED, Glenn IV TR, Eisenreich SJ (2005) Atmospheric concentrations and deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the Mid-Atlantic East Coast region. Environ Sci Technol 39:5550–5559

  • Halsall CJ, Sweetman AJ, Barrie LA, Jones KC (2001) Modelling the behaviour of PAHs during atmospheric transport from the UK to the Arctic. Atmos Environ 35:255–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halse AK, Schlabach M, Eckhardt S, Sweetman A, Jones KC, Breivik K (2011) Spatial variability of POPs in European background air. Atmos Chem Phys 11:1547–1564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison RM, Smith DJT, Luhana L (1996) Source apportionment of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons collected from an urban location in Birmingham, U.K. Environ Sci Technol 30:825–832

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang H-C, Lee C-L, Lai C-H, Fang M-D, Lai IC (2012) Transboundary movement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Kuroshio Sphere of the western Pacific Ocean. Atmos Environ 54:470–479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Irwin RJ, Van Mouwerik M, Stevens L, Seese MD, Basham W (1998) Environmental contaminants encyclopedia. Fort Collins, Colorado

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurado E, Jaward FM, Lohmann R, Jones KC, Simó R, Dachs J (2004) Atmospheric dry deposition of persistent organic pollutants to the Atlantic and inferences for the global oceans. Environ Sci Technol 38:5505–5513

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado E, Jaward F, Lohmann R, Jones KC, Simó R, Dachs J (2005) Wet deposition of persistent organic pollutants to the global oceans. Environ Sci Technol 39:2426–2435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khalili NR, Scheff PA, Holsen TM (1995) PAH source fingerprints for coke ovens, diesel and gasoline engines, highway tunnels, and wood combustion emissions. Atmos Environ 29:533–542

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lai IC, Lee C-L, Zeng K-Y, Huang H-C (2011) Seasonal variation of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons along the Kaohsiung coast. J Environ Manag 92:2029–2037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lai IC, Chang Y-C, Lee C-L, Chiou G-Y, Huang H-C (2013) Source identification and characterization of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons along the southwestern coastal area of Taiwan—with a GMDH approach. J Environ Manag 115:60–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen RK, Baker JE (2003) Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban atmosphere: a comparison of three methods. Environ Sci Technol 37:1873–1881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen T (1996) Traffic contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the center of a large city. Atmos Environ 30:3481–3490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omar NYMJ, Abas MRB, Ketuly KA, Tahir NM (2002) Concentrations of PAHs in atmospheric particles (PM-10) and roadside soil particles collected in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Atmos Environ 36:247–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panther BC, Hooper MA, Tapper NJ (1999) A comparison of air particulate matter and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some tropical and temperate urban environments. Atmos Environ 33:4087–4099

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park SS, Kim YJ, Kang CH (2002) Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Seoul, Korea. Atmos Environ 36:2917–2924

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perwak J, Byrne M, Coons S, Goyer M, Harris J, Cruse P, DeRosier R, Moss K, Wendt S (1982) An exposure and risk assessment for benzo[a]pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, vol IV. U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravindra K, Sokhi R, Van Grieken R (2008) Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: source attribution, emission factors and regulation. Atmos Environ 42:2895–2921

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Safe S (1990) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and related compounds: environmental and mechanistic considerations which support the development of toxic equivalency factors (TEFs). Crit Rev Toxicol 21:51–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Safe S, Hutzinger O (1984) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs): biochemistry, toxicology, and mechanism of action. Crit Rev Toxicol 13:319–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UN/ECE/EB.AIR/1998/1 Protocol to the 1979 convention on long-range transboundary air pollution on persistent organic pollutants. http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/pops_h1.html. Accessed 12 Aug 2012

  • van Drooge BL, Ballesta PPr (2009) Seasonal and daily source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in PM10 in a semirural European area. Environ Sci Technol 43:7310–7316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venkataraman C, Lyons JM, Friedlander SK (1994) Size distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and elemental carbon. 1. Sampling, measurement methods, and source characterization. Environ Sci Technol 28:555–562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vreugdenhil HJI, Lanting CI, Mulder PGH, Boersma ER, Weisglas-Kuperus N (2002) Effects of prenatal PCB and dioxin background exposure on cognitive and motor abilities in Dutch children at school age. J Pediatr 140:48–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wania F, MacKay D (1996) Peer reviewed: tracking the distribution of persistent organic pollutants. Environ Sci Technol 30:390A–396A

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Guo P, Zhang Q, Li D, Zhao L, Mu D (2010) Seasonal variation, sources and gas/particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Guangzhou, China. Sci Total Environ 408:2492–2500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yunker MB, Macdonald RW, Vingarzan R, Mitchell RH, Goyette D, Sylvestre S (2002) PAHs in the Fraser River basin: a critical appraisal of PAH ratios as indicators of PAH source and composition. Org Geochem 33:489–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J, Wang T, Huang Y, Mao T, Zhong N (2005) Size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban and suburban sites of Beijing, China. Chemosphere 61:792–799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support from the National Science Council and the Ministry of Education of Taiwan R. O. C., under contract Number NSC 98-2011-M-110-008 and DOE 98C030219. We also appreciate the US NOAA Air Resources Laboratory that provided the online HYSPLIT model used in the publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Environment and Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan

    I.-C. Lai, C.-L. Lee, J.-C. Lin & H.-C. Huang

  2. Kuroshio Research Group, Asia-Pacific Ocean Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    C.-L. Lee

  3. Center for Emerging Contaminants Research, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    C.-L. Lee

  4. Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Dong-Hwa University, Pingtung, Taiwan

    F.-C. Ko

Authors
  1. I.-C. Lai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C.-L. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F.-C. Ko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J.-C. Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H.-C. Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C.-L. Lee.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 375 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lai, IC., Lee, CL., Ko, FC. et al. Persistent organic pollutants in tropical coastal and offshore environment: part A—atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 12, 1075–1086 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0482-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0482-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation