Persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere of two antarctic zones (Antarctic Peninsula and Ross Sea) using passive air samplers (PUF disks)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a global environmental concern. The Stockholm Convention (SC) on POPs aims to reduce or eliminate the use, discharge and emission of these compounds to the benefit of the environment, reducing risks to humans and wildlife1. Currently, 23 chemicals are listed under the SC, including the original 12 “legacy POPs” (e.g. organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs)) and several newly listed POPs. The transport of POPs to polar regions is complex and occurs through meteorological transport events and through a more gradual cycling process involving successive volatilization and deposition steps from warmer areas towards cooler regions. Because of the low temperatures and limited solar radiation, the environmental residence time of organic contaminants is generally longer in polar regions than at lower (warmer) latitudes2 .The Antarctic region covers about 20% of the southern hemisphere. The primary input of POPs to Antarctica is through long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). Nevertheless, literature data on POPs in the atmosphere of Antarctica is relatively scarce compared to other parts of the world. This is due largely to high costs and logistical challenges (e.g. source of electricity) associated with conventional air sampling methods2. During the last decade passive air samplers (PAS) have become widely used to address these challenges and to generate better spatially resolved data for studying the occurrence and transport of POPs at local, regional and global scales 3-4. In 2010-2011, as part of an international collaboration project between several research groups operated under the Chilean Antarctic institute (INACH) and the Italian Antarctic Research Programme PAS consisting of polyurethane foam (PUF) disks were deployed at two Antarctic stations - the Chilean station near the Antarctic Peninsula (northern) and the Italian station on Ross sea coast (east side of Antarctica). The purpose of the study was to assess long range transport of POPs and their concentration and spatial patterns in air.