scholarly journals Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric aerosols and air–sea exchange in the Mediterranean

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 5963-5990
Author(s):  
M. D. Mulder ◽  
A. Heil ◽  
P. Kukučka ◽  
J. Klánová ◽  
J. Kuta ◽  
...  

Abstract. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentration in air of the central and eastern Mediterranean in summer 2010 was 1.45 (0.30–3.25) ng m−3, with &amp;approx;8% in the particulate phase, associated with particles < 0.25 μm. The diffusive air–sea exchange fluxes of fluoranthene and pyrene were mostly found net-depositional or close to phase equilibrium, while retene was net-volatilisational in a large sea region. Regional fire activity records in combination with box model simulations suggest that seasonal depositional input of retene from biomass burning into the surface waters during summer is followed by an annual reversal of air–sea exchange, while inter-annual variability is dominated by the variability of the fire season. It is concluded that future negative emission trends or interannual variability of regional sources may trigger the sea to become a secondary PAH source through reversal of diffusive air–sea exchange.

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 19165-19197 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Theodosi ◽  
C. Parinos ◽  
A. Gogou ◽  
A. Kokotos ◽  
S. Stavrakakis ◽  
...  

Abstract. To assess sources and major processes controlling vertical transport of both anthropogenic and natural chemical species in deep basins of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (SE Ionian Sea, Nestor site), we performed chemical characterization (elemental carbon, major and trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) of marine sinking particles. Sediment traps were deployed at five successive depths, 700 m, 1200 m, 2000 m, 3200 m and 4300 m from the sea surface, during the period of May 2007 to October 2008. Fluxes of all measured species exhibited minimum values from January to March 2008 and maximum from April to September 2008, with an evident covariance revealing a common and rapid vertical transport mechanism from 700 m down to 4300 m depth. Crustal matter flux from atmospheric deposition plays an important role in the temporal variability of particulate matter with significant contribution from biogenic constituents namely the seasonal succession in the export of planktonic biomass, expressed by particulate organic carbon (POC), carbonates and biogenic Si fluxes (Stavrakakis et al., 2012). Tracers (elemental carbon, retene) of the devastating forest fires occurred in August 2007 in southern Greece, were detected at sediment trap material in all depths with a delay of 15 days at 4300 m, indicating a rapid and well-coupled transport of sinking particulate material between the sea-surface and deep layers of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Lateral inputs of pollutants at the deepest trap (4300 m) are probably of importance, due to the influence of deep Adriatic water at the study site.


2011 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Turk-Sekulic ◽  
Jelena Radonic ◽  
Mirjana Vojinovic-Miloradov ◽  
Nevena Senk ◽  
Marija Okuka

Results of partial or total destruction of industrial plants, military targets, infrastructure, uncontrolled fires and explosions during the conflict period from 1991 to 1999, at the area of Western Balkans, were large amounts of hazardous organic matter that have been generated and emitted in the environment. In order to assess gas/particle partition of seven EPA polychlorinated biphenyls and sixteen EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, twenty air samples have been collected at six urban, industrial and highly contaminated localities in Vojvodina. Hi-Vol methodology has been used for collecting ambiental air samples, that simultaneously collects gaseous and particulate phase with polyurethane foam filters (PUF) and glass fiber filters (GFF). PUF and GFF filters have been analyzed, and concentration levels of gaseous PCBs and PAHs molecules in gaseous and particulate phase were obtained, converted and expressed through fraction of individual compounds sorbed onto particulate phase of the sample, in total detected quantity. Experimentally gained gas/particle partitioning values of PCBs and PAHs molecules have been compared with PP-LFER model estimated values. Significant deviation has been noticed during comparative analysis of estimated polyparameter model values for complete set of seven PCBs congeners. Much better agreement of experimental and estimated values is for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, especially for molecules with four rings. These results are in a good correlation with literature data where polyparameter model has been used for predicting gas/particle partition of studied group of organic molecules.


2018 ◽  
Vol 483 (1) ◽  
pp. 1463-1467 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Yu. Semenov ◽  
V. A. Snytko ◽  
I. I. Marinaite ◽  
A. V. Silaev ◽  
Yu. M. Semenov

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