Persistent and semi-volatile organic contaminants remain important atmospheric tracers because of their environmental persistence, multiple emission pathways and capacity for regional transport. This study investigated the spatial and seasonal variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in northeastern France. Nitrogen-doped carbon-coated silicon carbide foam (NMC@SiC) passive air samplers were deployed at six urban, suburban and rural sites in the Strasbourg metropolitan area between 2018 and 2020. Twenty-one OCPs, sixteen PAHs, and twenty-two PCBs were quantified by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. PAHs exhibited the clearest spatial and seasonal variability, with higher concentrations at urban sites and cold-season or autumn enhancements depending on the location. Naphthalene dominated the PAH profile, while diagnostic ratios suggested dominant combustion inputs, including traffic, residential heating and biomass or solid-fuel burning. PCBs showed weaker spatial contrasts and more homogeneous distributions, with profiles dominated by penta-, hexa- and hepta-chlorinated congeners, indicating diffuse legacy contamination, possible PCB-containing materials, industrially influenced areas and regional redistribution. OCPs were dominated by dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane-related compounds and hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, reflecting historical residues and secondary volatilization from contaminated environmental reservoirs. These findings highlight the combined influence of current urban emissions, persistent legacy reservoirs, secondary re-emissions and regional atmospheric transport on organic contaminant distributions in northeastern France.
This study presents a comprehensive 15-year (2009-2023) assessment of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Spanish atmosphere to evaluate the Stockholm Convention's effectiveness. Polyurethane foam passive samplers were deployed across 23 sites to monitor legacy pesticides and industrial chemicals. Results reveal a concentration hierarchy dominated by hexachlorobenzene (HCB), which accounted for a median of 41% of the ∑POP concentrations and displayed a remote-enriched spatial pattern characteristic of global distillation. In contrast, legacy pesticides and indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (iPCBs) were influenced by temperature-dependent secondary volatilization from historically contaminated soils, as indicated by Clausius-Clapeyron analyses. These compounds frequently exhibited an unexpected urban enrichment likely associated with heat island effects, while polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) displayed a pronounced urban gradient (a 35-fold increase from remote baselines) driven by the late-regulated BDE-209. Long-term temporal analyses underscore a sharp regulatory dichotomy. Early-banned compounds, such as endosulfan, HCB and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and lighter PBDEs, are experiencing rapid environmental depletion, with significant annual declines of up to -33%. Conversely, pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), iPCBs, and BDE-209 show stalled or locally increasing trends (up to +20%), sustained by unintentional combustion, active consumer goods, and regulatory lag times. Altitudinal profiling across Tenerife sites highlights this divergence: coastal areas reflect local secondary emissions, whereas high-altitude observations confirm the progressive clearance of the global free troposphere. Overall, these findings provide new insights into the spatial and temporal dynamics of atmospheric POPs, reaffirming the role of long-term monitoring in guiding international abatement strategies.
A. de la Torre, J. Muñoz-Arnanz, I. Navarro et al.· Journal of Hazardous Materia...· 0 citations
This study assessed the seasonal variability of physicochemical conditions and selected organic pollutants in the Sitnica River, Kosovo, under contrasting hydrological conditions. Surface water samples were collected from 15 monitoring stations during a high-flow campaign in February/March 2023 and a low-flow campaign in September 2023. The investigated pollutants included organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), BTEX compounds, and chlorobenzenes. Physicochemical parameters indicated stronger anthropogenic pressure during the low-flow period, with increased organic load, nutrients, ionic content, and suspended solids. Organic pollutants were detected during both campaigns, but their seasonal behav - ior differed among contaminant groups. Total PCB concentrations were significantly higher during the high-flow campaign (p = 0.004), suggesting hydrological mobilization or resuspension of particle-associated residues. In contrast, total BTEX concentrations were significantly higher during the low-flow campaign (p = 0.005), indicat - ing stronger recent local inputs under reduced dilution conditions. OCPs, PAHs, and chlorobenzenes showed pro - nounced spatial variability, with localized peaks rather than uniform seasonal trends. Screening-level comparison with European environmental quality standards indicated that selected legacy pesticides, PAHs, benzene, pen - tachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene, and trichlorobenzenes reached concentrations of potential environmental concern at specific stations. These findings confirm the coexistence of legacy and recent contamination signals in the Sitnica River and demonstrate that hydrological conditions influence pollutant transport, redistribution, and detectability. The study provides baseline information for seasonal monitoring, source identification, and risk-oriented management of organic pollution in the Kosovo Plain.
Aferdita Camaj Isa, A. Nuro, Arieta Camaj Ibrahimi· Journal of Ecological Engine...· 0 citations
Assessment of environmental pollution in the Arctic is becoming increasingly important in the context of active industrial development and global climate change. In this study, soils and bottom sediments from the northern regions of Western and Central Siberia were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Total contaminant concentrations were quantified and spatial trends in the relative distribution of individual PAH and PCB groups were identified across Arctic subregions defined by the CAFF working group. Potential pollution sources were evaluated using non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) and ANOSIM. Furthermore, the specific characteristics of lake bottom sediment pollution under the influence of active oil and gas production were examined. Total PAH concentrations in background soils and sediments ranged from 0.3 to 112.6 µg/kg dry weight, exhibiting a significant northward increasing gradient, heavily dominated by low-molecular-weight (2–3 ring) compounds. In contrast, total PCB concentrations remained uniformly low, ranging from 0.2 to 9.0 µg/kg dry weight regardless of the subregion. The nMDS ordination demonstrated a pronounced decrease in the diversity of PAH compositions with increasing latitude and proximity to nearest industrial center, reflecting the combined effects of temperature-dependent atmospheric fractionation and regional emissions. Compositional fingerprinting confirmed that the background PCB pollution was predominantly driven by the historical regional footprint of Soviet “Sovol” technical mixtures. Compared to pristine background baselines, lake sediments within active oil and gas fields exhibited an increase in both the total content and the relative abundance of heavy PAHs. In contrast, local hydrocarbon extraction activities did not influence either the total loads or the homologous profiles of PCBs, leaving the stabilized regional historical background unaltered.
M. Kulikova, D. Samsonov, A. Soromotin· Environmental Monitoring & A...· 0 citations
Atmospheric aerosols in Ethiopian urban environments remain poorly characterized. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variability of equivalent black carbon (eBC) concentrations and the molecular composition of organics in total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) collected in urban Addis Ababa. The level of eBC was monitored at major traffic intersections from January 2024 to December 2025. eBC concentrations were measured using a portable MicroAeth AE51. TSPM samples were collected on Teflon filters using a Leland Legacy sampler and analyzed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization interfaced to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RPLC-ESI-QTOFMS) operated in the negative ion mode. The study revealed substantial spatiotemporal variability in eBC concentration, with a mean of 26.24 ± 42.81 µg m−3. Episodic peaks exceeding 1000 µg m−3 were recorded at heavily trafficked locations such as Kality. Diurnal patterns exhibited distinct morning and evening rush-hour maxima. Non-targeted analysis identified 74 compounds (with molecular weights spanning from 102 to 370 g mol−1), 41 of which were structurally assigned with high confidence. The organic fraction of TSPM was dominated by oxygenated (CHO) and nitrogen-containing (CHON) species, including carboxylic acids, oxocarboxylic acids, phenolics, aromatic acids, and nitro-aromatic compounds. Spatial heterogeneity was evident, particularly at Awotobistera, where it showed enrichment in biomass-burning tracers and lignin-derived compounds. Twenty-three identified compounds functioned as brown carbon chromophores, including nitro-aromatic and oxygenated aromatic species. Their occurrence suggests contributions from both primary combustion sources and atmospheric processing, although source apportionment was beyond the scope of this study. These findings provide a baseline for future investigations of aerosol sources, atmospheric processing, and urban air quality dynamics in Addis Ababa.
Andualem Ayele, Haley M. Royer, M. Fiddler et al.· Environmental Science Atmosp...· 0 citations
Antarctic coastal systems are changing under the combined influence of climate warming and increasing human activity, but the interaction between contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and legacy contaminants (LCs) remains poorly resolved. Here, we investigated their occurrence, sources, partitioning, and ecological risks in suspended particulate matter (SPM) (n = 15) and sediments (n = 15) from Admiralty Bay, Northern Antarctic Peninsula, using gas chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometer for CECs, and to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer for LCs. In SPM, contaminants showed a heterogeneous distribution across Admiralty Bay and generally higher concentrations. In contrast, sediment contamination was more associated with preferential deposition areas and showed a greater diversity of detected compounds. Source apportionment suggested a combination of local sources, including wastewater discharge, fuel use, and station activities, together with long-range atmospheric transport and secondary remobilization. Risk assessment highlighted a functional difference between contaminant groups. CECs, such as octocrylene and triclosan, drove immediate ecological risk (RQ > 1) due to high exposure in SPM, while LCs, including PCBs and alkylated PAHs, remained dominant in toxicological priority. These findings show that Antarctica is no longer only a passive sink, but an active system where recent inputs and historical reservoirs interact, emphasizing the need for integrated monitoring and management strategies based on exposure and hazard.
A. C. Souza, Tatiane Combi, C. C. Martins et al.· Environmental Research· 0 citations
Atmospheric deposition is one of the main routes by which persistent pollutants are transferred from the air to the soil and subsequently into the food chain, with potential impacts on human health. This study investigated atmospheric deposition of persistent pollutants at an urban site in Rome (ISS building), Italy, with particular attention to pollutant deposition fluxes (pg, ng or μg m-2 d-1) normalized to the collected sedimentable particulate matter (pg, ng or μg mg-1 SPM), and comparison between street and roof-level samples. Monthly samples were collected from 1/08/2023 to 31/08/2024 using deposimeters. PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PAHs, and metals were assessed in atmospheric deposition using GC-HRMS and ICP-MS instrumentation. Pollutants deposition fluxes were consistently higher at street level, with annual SPM fluxes of 42 and 26 mg m-2 d-1 at street and roof level, respectively. Although deposition fluxes were higher at street level, the Wilcoxon signed-rank non-parametric test showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between street and roof level samples when pollutant deposition fluxes were normalized to SPM. This suggests comparable contamination levels of deposited dust at the two sampling heights. According to the Kruskal-Wallis test, significant (p < 0.05) seasonal patterns were observed for PCDD/Fs, PCBs and for certain metals (Cr, As, Ni, Sb), with peak concentrations generally occurring in winter, whilst PAHs show significant peak in summer and autumn. Spearman correlation analysis revealed strong associations among organic pollutants (p < 0.01), indicating shared combustion-related sources, while metals were mainly linked to non-exhaust traffic emissions, resuspended road dust and diffuse urban sources. These results show that atmospheric deposition in Rome is controlled by source type and seasonality, and highlight the value of combining deposition fluxes with pollutant concentrations in SPM to improve urban contamination assessment and support exposure-oriented monitoring.
Giuseppe Ianiri, M. E. Soggiu, M. Inglessis et al.· Environmental Pollution· 0 citations
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