Seasonal variation of gas/particle partitioning of pcb compounds in the Istanbul atmosphere

Abstract

In this study, gas/particle partitioning of dioxin-like PCBs (Dl-PCB) and indicator PCB was investigated at three sampling areas of Istanbul. Gas and particle phase samples were collected via high volume air sampler on monthly time intervals from May 2011 to October 2013. Dl-PCB compounds showed a tendency of existing in gas phase (77%) with increasing trend in the summer season. The percentages of gas phase were determined to be 88% and 66% for summer and winter seasons, respectively. Indicator PCBs showed a tendency of existing in gas phase (87%) similar to Db-PCB compounds. Unlike Dl-PCBs, gas/particle partitioning of indicator PCBs did not show significant seasonal variation. Gas phase ratios of indicator PCBs were detected to be 88%, 89%, 87%, 84% for winter, summer, autumn and spring seasons, respectively. Low negative correlations were found between temperature, precipitation, wind rate, solar radiation (SR), ultra violet (UV) and Dl-PCB concentrations. Similarly, low negative correlations were found between wind rate, atmospheric pressure and indicator PCB compounds.