PARENT SESSION
15 - Atmospheric Transport and Global Pollution
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday, 13 May 2002
Exhibition Area

(15-08) Persistent organic pollutants in Arctic Air. Comparison of atmospheric samples from Bjoernoeya (Bear Island) and Svalbard.

Kallenborn, Roland^*,1, Christensen, Guttorm², Schlabach, Martin³, Skotvold, Trond², ¹ Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Tromsų, Troms² Akvaplan-niva, Tromsų, Troms³ Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Kjeller, Akershus

ABSTRACT- In 1994, scientists from Akvaplan-niva and the Norwegian institute for air research (NILU) in Tromsoe reported about high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Bjoernoeya environmental samples (74^o N, 19 ^o E). Therefore, a comprehensive research program was started in order to elucidate possible sources and transport mechanisms at the island. In the following years, high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT-derivatives, chlorobornanes, brominated flame retardants etc. were found in various sample types like sediments, and freshwater biota (crustacians, Arctic char) as well as glaucous gull. High POP concentrations in the atmosphere above Bjoernoeya were also detected, confirming the important role of air masses for spreading contaminant loads to and inside remote Arctic regions. In parallel with the Bjoernoeya sampling program, NILU performs continuously monitoring of POPs in ambient air at the Zeppelin mountain research station (476 m.a.s.l., position: 79^o N, 12 ^o E) in Ny-Aalesund (Svalbard) since 1993, applying the same methods for sampling and quantification as used for the Bjoernoya atmospheric samples. Thus, for the year 2000, concentration levels and distribution patterns of chlorobiphenyls (PCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (alpha- and gamma HCH) and chlordanes (trans- / cis-chlordane, trans-/ cis nonachlor, heptachlor) were compared for Bjoernboya and the Zeppelin station in order to elucidate long-range transport and possible local sources. Characteristic pattern differences for PCBs and chloropesticides were found for both sampling sites indicating site-specific distribution patterns. Characteristic pattern differences and possible explanations as well as future strategies for investigations of POPs in the Arctic atmosphere will be discussed in the presentation

Key words: Persistent Organic Pollutants, European Arctic, Atmosphere, Long-range Transport