TP7 Persistent Organic Pollutants
Tuesday, 15 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM in Exhibit Hall

(CIN-1117-814275) Atmospheric concentrations of organochlorine pesticides at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica).

Cincinelli, A¹, Martellini, T¹, Innocenti, C¹, Checchini, L¹, Lepri, L¹, Dickhut, R², ¹ Department of Chemistry- University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy² College of William & Mary, VIMS, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA

ABSTRACT- Some persistent organic chemicals such as certain organochlorine pesticides may preferentially deposit and accumulate in cold regions, including remote areas such as Antarctica. In this study, we measured the organochlorine pesticides concentrations in air and sea-water samples, collected in the coastal area of the Italian Antarctic Station at Terra Nova Bay, during the Campaign 2003-2004. Air samples were collected using a high volume air sampler every 5 days between October 2003 and February 2004, while sea-water samples (about 150L) were collected in the same period by pumping sea water from a depth of 4m. The organochlorine pesticides that occurred most frequently in air samples were hexachlorobenzenes, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, heptachlor. Levels of hexachorobenzene were significantly higher than for the other chlorinated pesticides. The alpha/gamma hexachlorocylohexane ratios, in both air and seawater samples, showed a predominance of influx of lindane versus technical hexcahlorocyclohexane. Gas exchange fluxes will also calculated to see if the transport is into the water column and whether the fluxes increase with temperature over the course of the summer.

Key words: Antarctica, persistent organochlorines, hexachlorocyclohexanes, POPs