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28 January 2019

Lecture: Pathways of POP to enter the Arctic

Author/Compiled by
Yi-Fan Li, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
Source: Roland Kalenborn, 2018
Executive Summary

There are two different groups of POPs; one is the flyers, represented by a-HCH (organochlorine pesticide), entering the Arctic mainly through atmospheric long-range transport (LRT), and the other is the swimmers, represented by b-HCH (organochlorine pesticide), entering the Arctic mainly through ocean LRT. BDE-209 (brominated fire retardant), is a flyer, mainly entering the Arctic through air, not particle, movement.

Background

Most persistent organic pollutants (POPs) found in Arctic environment and ecosystem are from the source regions far away from the Arctic. Study on pathways, the major pathway in particular, for POPs entering the Arctic is an important area in Arctic research. Three compounds, a-HCH, b-HCH, and BDE-209, are three typical chemicals very important in studying the pathways to enter the Arctic for POPs and other semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs).

Learning objectives

At the end of this lecture students will:

  • know that global emissions of POPs is important in studying the source-sink relationship for POPs in Arctic
  • have learnt that the gas/particle (G/P) partitioning of SVOCs is a very important process that primarily governs their atmospheric fate and their long-range atmospheric transport
  • know that there are two different groups of POPs; one is the flyers that enter the Arctic mainly through atmospheric long-range transport (LRT), and the other is the swimmers that enter the Arctic mainly through ocean LRT
Lecture

Media PPT
Pathways of POP to enter the Arctic
Library References

Sources and pathways of selected organochlorine pesticides to the Arctic and the effect of pathway divergence on HCH trends in biota: A review

Sources and pathways of selected organochlorine pesticides to the Arctic and the effect of pathway divergence on HCH trends in biota: A review
LI, Y.F. ; MACDONALD, R. (2005): Sources and pathways of selected organochlorine pesticides to the Arctic and the effect of pathway divergence on HCH trends in biota: A review. In: Science of the Total Environment: Volume 341 , 87-106. URL [Accessed: 19.12.2018]

Decabrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-209) in Chinese and global air: Levels, gas/particle partitioning, and long-range transport: Is long range transport of BDE-209 really governed by the movement of particles?

Decabrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-209) in Chinese and global air: Levels, gas/particle partitioning, and long-range transport: Is long range transport of BDE-209 really governed by the movement of particles?
LI, Y.F. ; QIAO, L.N. ; REN, N.Q. ; SVERKO, E. ; MACKAY, D. ; MACDONALD, R. (2017): Decabrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-209) in Chinese and global air: Levels, gas/particle partitioning, and long-range transport: Is long range transport of BDE-209 really governed by the movement of particles? . In: Environ. Sci. Technol.: Volume 51 , 1035-1042. URL [Accessed: 19.12.2018]
Further Readings

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