Monitoring Of Persistent Organic Pollutants Research Articles

Exploring global oceanic persistence and ecological effects of legacy persistent organic pollutants across five decades.

Global monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has intensified following regulatory efforts aimed at reducing their release. In this context, we compiled over 10,000 POP measurements, reported from 1980 to 2023, to assess the effectiveness of these legislative measures in the global marine environments. While a general decreasing trend in legacy POP concentrations is evident across various maritime regions, highlighting the success of source control measures, the Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas have experienced a rise in POP levels. This increase suggests the northward migration of pollutants via ocean currents from mid-latitude regions to polar areas. Despite global efforts to reduce emissions, the continued transport and accumulation of pollutants to the Arctic regions may have substantial ecological impacts. Addressing these environmental challenges demands a thorough understanding of POP dynamics, including response times, multiphase transport, and biogeochemical cycling. Continued research into these processes is vital to accurately map their distribution and temporal variations within marine systems.

Validation of the method for determining priority phthalates by GC-MS at trace concentrations in surface water with a background pollution level

A methodology for determining priority phthalates (PP) at trace concentrations in surface waters with a background pollution level has been validated. Lake Baikal, the largest natural reservoir that retains up to 20% of the world’s fresh surface waters, was chosen as a natural model for the study. Baikal is characterized by a minimal content of suspended organic matter, a low degree of mineralization and a background level of organic pollutants. Four priority phthalates were found in Baikal water: dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate di-n-butyl phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate present in the concentration range from 0.01 to 0.66 μg/liter. The method for phthalate determination includes a single liquid-liquid extraction of phthalates (Vsample = 1 liter) and direct analysis of the extracts by GC-MS. Considering the minimum content of suspended particles in water and the use of high sensitivity of the mass spectrometry, the stages of sample filtration and concentration of extracts are excluded from the procedure. Deuterated phthalates are used as surrogate internal standards for the quantitative determination of priority phthalates. The laboratory background of phthalates was assessed using reagent-blank methods, exhaustive multiple extraction and subsequent exclusion of the resulting value from the determination result as a systematic error. The limits of phthalate determination (0.01 – 0.17 μg/liter) and the error of determination (±δ from 12 to 38%) were assessed in the concentration range from 0.01 to 0.66 μg/liter. The method was validated during monitoring of persistent organic pollutants in water of Lake Baikal for the period 2015 – 2023.

Global monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in biota, water and sediments: its role in screening for unregulated POPs, in compiling time trends of regulated POPs under the Stockholm Convention (SC) and their relevance for biodiversity in a changing climate

This paper considers elements of the dynamic process of production dispersal and monitoring of persistent organic pollutants in the environment that has unfolded over the past 100 years.

Analysis on environmental monitoring of persistent organic pollutants

Persistent organic pollutants will cause harm to living organisms and the environment, so it is necessary to strengthen environmental monitoring, find pollutants in time and take effective measures to control them. This paper analyzes the characteristics of persistent pollutants, from the water, atmosphere, soil these dimension analysis of environmental monitoring, and put forward the corresponding Suggestions, including improve the environmental monitoring system, the advanced monitoring system and detection methods,reasonable layout of monitoring points, intensify environmental protection propaganda, grasp the influence of pollutants, transmission law, etc., to provide reference for pollution control.

Levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Antarctic atmosphere over time (1980 to 2021) and estimation of their atmospheric half-lives

Abstract. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are synthetic compounds that were intentionally produced in large quantities and have been distributed in the global environment, originating a threat due to their persistence, bioaccumulative potential, and toxicity. POPs reach the Antarctic continent through long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). In these areas, low temperatures play a significant role in the environmental fate of POPs, retaining them for a long time due to cold trapping by diffusion and wet deposition, acting as a net sink for many POPs. However, in the current context of climate change, the remobilization of POPs that were trapped in water, ice, and soil for decades is happening. Therefore, continuous monitoring of POPs in polar air is necessary to assess whether there is a recent re-release of historical pollutants back to the environment. We reviewed the scientific literature on atmospheric levels of several POP families (polychlorinated biphenyls – PCBs, hexachlorobenzene – HCB, hexachlorocyclohexanes – HCHs, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane – DDT) from 1980 to 2021. We estimated the atmospheric half-life using characteristic decreasing times (TD). We observed that HCB levels in the Antarctic atmosphere were higher than the other target organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), but HCB also displayed higher fluctuations and did not show a significant decrease over time. Conversely, the atmospheric levels of HCHs, some DDTs, and PCBs have decreased significantly. The estimated atmospheric half-lives for POPs decreased in the following order: 4,4' DDE (13.5 years) > 4,4' DDD (12.8 years) > 4,4' DDT (7.4 years) > 2,4' DDE (6.4 years) > 2,4' DDT (6.3 years) > α-HCH (6 years) > HCB (6 years) > γ-HCH (4.2 years). For PCB congeners, they decreased in the following order: PCB 153 (7.6 years) > PCB 138 (6.5 years) > PCB 101 (4.7 years) > PCB 180 (4.6 years) > PCB 28 (4 years) > PCB 52 (3.7 years) > PCB 118 (3.6 years). For HCH isomers and PCBs, the Stockholm Convention (SC) ban on POPs did have an impact on decreasing their levels during the last decades. Nevertheless, their ubiquity in the Antarctic atmosphere shows the problematic issues related to highly persistent synthetic chemicals.

Мониторинг стойких органических загрязнителей в промысловых рыбах Российской Арктики

The manuscript discusses the results of the analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in commercial fish species (atlantic salmon Salmo salar, rainbow smelt Osmerus dentex Steindachner et Kner, herring Clupea sp., arctic char Salvelinus alpinus) living in the waters of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) and used in the diet nutrition of the inhabitants of the Russian Arctic. This study lays the foundation for monitoring of POPs, taking into accounts the possible risks and norms of daily consumption of traditional foods that affect human health in the Arctic. The authors determined the temporal trends in the content of POPs in Arctic fish species, as well as analyzed and compared published data on the content of POPs in traditional food. In the studied fish samples, p,p’-DDE, PCB 153 and hexachlorobenzene dominated among POPs, which corresponds to the trends in the accumulation of organic pollutants in Arctic hydrobionts. The total content of POPs in atlantic salmon, herring, arctic char and rainbow smelt was 15,01; 7,89; 2,38; 2,02 ng/g wet weight, respectively, which is tens to hundreds times lower than the established standard values. For all fish species, in the amount of at least 7 samples, the DDE/DDT ratio was high, which indicates early DDT contamination of fish habitats. Atlantic salmon and herring are the most contaminated fish species in the entire list of studied compounds. A decrease of POPs concentration in the studied fish species was noted in comparison with earlier studies conducted in similar areas. Despite the large amount of fish in the diet of peoples from the NAO, no significant risks have been identified. However, it was found that the level of PCBs in concentrations below the MPC carries a potential risk of cancer, especially with long-term consumption of atlantic salmon more than 45 g/day by the local population in one of the settlements of the NAO.

Spatial distribution of atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Jakarta Great Area using passive air sampler

Assessing of air contamination by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been a matter of global concern due to the atmosphere as key transport route for these pollutants. Furthermore, polyurethane foam passive air sampler (PUF-PAS) has been used as one of proved methods for air monitoring of POPs. The objectives of this study are to elucidate the levels and distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in atmosphere of Jakarta and surrounding areas in respect to the different in concentration levels, possible origin of their sources and magnitude of their contamination. Sixty-two PCB congeners were quantified in PUF disk from PAS deployed at nine locations representing different background area by using a gas chromatography equipped with mass spectrometry detector. PCBs were detected in all PUF with concentrations varied according to location (ranged 29 – 220 pg/m3), indicating specific location source of PCBs. The highest concentration of PCBs was found in air of dumpsite and were followed by industrial>urban>sub-urban areas, suggesting that dumpsite and industrial areas are as emission sources of these compounds. The concentration levels of PCBs were generally similar to some other countries in Africa and South America but lower than those of industrial countries worldwide. The lighter PCB congeners were the predominant compounds, which correspond to specific technical mixtures and their volatile properties.

Criteria for the Assessment of Health Risk from a Waste Gasification Plant

Abstract In mountainous regions, the atmospheric dispersion of air pollutants is limited by complex terrain morphology. Trentino (a province located in the Italian Alps) is characterized by a high population density, highly developed agriculture and farming, and the presence of civil and industrial activities, whose emissions tend to be trapped inside the valleys. These conditions translate into exposure levels that are potentially higher than other geographical contexts (e.g., flat or coastal regions). The academic research carried out in Trentino since 2005 has produced a series of publications on topics related to the risk for health derived from waste management and other activities. These publications has focused on: 1) the evaluation of the emissions of organic pollutants from the waste sector; 2) the monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in various environmental matrices; 3) a methodology to carry out a comprehensive health risk assessment considering all the relevant exposure routes in an area; 4) the role of the local diet in the exposure of a population to POPs; 5) methodologies to define new regulatory limit values for dioxin and hexavalent chromium; and 6) the role of dispersion modeling in assessing the exposure to air pollutants. The present paper will review these publications and provide a reference document to evaluate new project proposals that require a health risk assessment and facilitate the work of proponents, clarifying the requirements of a health risk assessment. The paper will refer to waste gasification, but the considerations expressed in this paper may apply to other activities.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in The Sea: A Review

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that have been banned or restricted for all purposes. Banning these compounds does not guarantee that the chemicals will not be found in the environment. This is related to the persistence nature of POPs. To investigate the presence of POPs in the environment. Environmental monitoring of POPs is one of the efforts to support POPs management. The most frequently discussed pollutants in the last 3 years are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In addition, an effective method in degrading Persistent Organic Pollutants is the fabrication of ultra-thin graphitic carbon nitride decorated CoFe2O4/Mn3O4 nanosheet membranes with a yield of 94.5% and a kinetic rate (0.1367 min.-1) For norfloxacin (NOR) within 30 minutes. But for a method that uses simple, efficient and affordable technology to remove organic pollutants from aquatic systems is Biosorption using biomass waste, using tannin-rich waste such as coffee grounds and green tea grounds capable of degrading 10 μM chlordecone.

Applying the Global Monitoring Plan and analysis of POPs results in atmospheric air in Mexico (2017-2018).

Air is one of the target matrices of the Global Monitoring Plan (GMP) of the Stockholm Convention to determine concentrations and transport of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Mexico participates in the GMP for POPs in ambient air through the AIR-Global Environment Facility (GEF) program. The objective of this study was to analyze the results of POPs monitoring of air samples collected in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, between 2017 and 2018. Passive samplers were used for the determination of chlorinated basic POPs, indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (Ind. PCBs), polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs). A principal component analysis was applied to determine relationships between pollutants and groups present in the ambient air of the rural study area. Of the total POPs analyzed, 85.56% were detected in ambient air samples from Mexico. Organochlorine compounds, as DDT derivatives, were identified mainly, as well as PBDEs, PCDDs, and PCDFs. The prevalence of compounds differed according to the seasonality of sampling, with no change in average concentration between monitoring years.

Temporal Trends of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Sarasota Bay Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured in blubber samples collected from 196 common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from 2000 to 2016 in the Sarasota Bay, Florida, ecosystem. Legacy POPs included polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (ΣPCB; sum of 37 congeners or congener groups), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and transformation products (ΣDDT), chlordane and related compounds (ΣChlor), mirex, polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (ΣPBDE, sum of five congeners), dieldrin and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). All POP compounds or compound groups declined in dolphin blubber over the study period. POP classes declined at different rates within classifications (sex, adult or calf). For example, dieldrin decline in male dolphins was greatest (−13% per year) while HCB decline was lower (−6.3% per year). For individual POP classes, rates of decline depended on classification. For example, ΣPCB, the POP class present at the highest concentration relative to other POPs, declined at −8.4, −7.8, and −5.6% per year in adult females, adult males and calves, respectively. Overall POP declines were highest in adult males and lowest in calves. Declines in POP concentration with time based on individual dolphins resampled at different time points were consistent with declines calculated based on yearly or biennial cross-sections taken from 2000 through 2016. Overall rates of decline in Sarasota Bay bottlenose dolphins were like declines seen for Great Lakes fish and about twice the rate of decline observed in arctic temporal trend data sets. POP trends appear to have leveled off since 2009 in Sarasota Bay dolphins. For example, ΣPCBs in calves appear to have stabilized at 21 mg/kg lipid. Recent published work on delphinids with blubber concentrations spanning those observed in the present work suggest that levels of legacy POPs currently observed in Sarasota dolphins may suppress population growth. Results from this study confirm the need for continued monitoring of POPs in the Sarasota Bay bottlenose dolphin population to see if concentrations are continuing to fall or have indeed plateaued.

Persistent organic pollutants on human and sheep hair and comparison with POPs in indoor and outdoor air

This study compared the concentration of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in air derived from polyurethane-based passive samplers to those of hair samples collected from humans and sheep. Human scalp hair samples were obtained from 24 healthy individuals and ten sheep (Ovis aries) during indoor and outdoor polyurethane foam plug ambient sampling. The samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). ∑PBDE concentrations ranged 0.6-50 ng·g-1 (mean, 18.6 ± 13 ng·g-1) for humans and 0.6-1.4 ng·g-1 (mean, 1.1 ± 0.25 ng·g-1) for sheep. The ∑PAH concentrations were log-normally distributed in human hair ranging 98-2529 ng·g-1 (mean, 460 ± 538 ng·g-1), whereas concentrations for sheep hair samples ranged 168-526 ng·g-1 (mean, 334 ± 117 ng·g-1). Strong correlations (P-values < 0.01) were found between concentrations of PAHs and PBDEs in human and sheep hair with concentrations measured in indoor and outdoor air, respectively. Evidence generated from this preliminary study suggests that hair might be used for the environmental monitoring of POPs in remote sites to provide a first-order estimate of ambient levels. Further studies are required to understand the uptake profiles and validate the use of hair as a sampling medium for POPs in ambient air.

Past, present and future trends of selected pesticidal and industrial POPs in Kuwait.

Given the background of current global initiatives for controlling persistent organic pollutants (POPs), an overview of the scientific knowledge about the POPs issues in Kuwait is presented in this study. Both acute and chronic exposure to POPs can be associated with a wide range of deleterious health effects, including illness and death. POPs have drawn significant political and scientific interest in their fate and actions, particularly where local releases have resulted in dispersed contamination far from the source regions. These concerns inevitably led to the establishment of the Stockholm Convention (SC) on POPs. In recent years, Kuwait has carried out a wide variety of environmental research, in particular, on the monitoring of POPs in different matrices. The technological development facilitated to achieve the opposite monitoring of pesticidal and industrial POPs. The majority of these POPs are from a point source. Kuwait does not have pesticide manufacturing facilities and has not produced pesticides for POPs in the past. In the agriculture sector, Kuwait primarily imports pesticides for pest and disease control. This review encompasses the historical presence and current status of (pesticidal) organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and (industrial POPs) PCBs and PBDEs in Kuwait based on the export, import, consumption and usage. This research also contrasts pesticide and industrial POP data from various Kuwaiti environmental matrices with data from other parts of Asia, the EU, the USA and Africa.

Exposure to organochlorine pesticides as a predictor to breast cancer: A case-control study among Ethiopian women

Breast cancer (BC) is becoming one of the most prevalent non-infectious disease in low and middle income countries. The steady rise of BC incidence may be related to the different risk factors. Among many, rampant presence of environmental pollutants might be one of the risk factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate exposure to organochlorine pesticides as a risk factor to breast cancer. A case-control study design was employed among breast cancer patients and non-breast cancer individuals (controls). Blood samples were collected from 100 study participants (50 cases and 50 controls) followed by serum separation, extraction and cleanup using standard analytical procdures. The findings revealed that ten organochlorine pesticides were detected in the serum of the study participants. From the detected organochlorine pesticides, heptachlor was observed at higher concentration for breast cancer patients (6.90±4.37 μg/L) and controls (9.15±3.84 μg/L). Mean serum level of p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, heptachlor, gamma-chlordane, endosulfan, and dibutyl-chlorendate were significantly higher in the serum of breast cancer patients than the controls. From the studied pesticides, p,p'-DDT and gamma-chlordane are significant predictors for BC, while, others are equivocal. A unit increment of the concentration of p,p'-DDT (AOR; 2.03, 95% CI: 1.041-3.969) increased the odds of developing breast cancer by two, while for gamma-chlordane (AOR;3.12, 95% CI; 1.186-8.203) by three. Our study results suggesting that, organochlorines are a risk factors for breast cancer in Ethiopia. Decreasing exposure to such organochlorines might have a significant public health relevance in reducing non-communicable chronic illnesses. Besides, continues monitoring of persistent organic pollutants using body biomarkers is important for disease prevention and device mitigation measures.

Tracing the movement of persistent organic pollutants at a high-mountain sampling site by chemometric assessment

The main objective of the present study was to determine and differentiate the concentration levels, to define the probable sources of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) pollution in the atmospheric air and their seasonal variations in Bulgaria, on the high mountain peak Moussala, Rila Mountain. The study was based on the obtained results from the passive monitoring of POPs in 2014–2017. During this period, the measurements of POPs were performed with passive samplers, advanced instrumental methods analytically determined the concentrations of PAHs, and the analysis of the obtained data was performed by the multivariate statistical analysis (cluster, factor and time-series analysis). It is shown that the POPs species could be correctly classified according to their chemical nature into several patterns of similarity and their concentration profile depends on the annual season.

High spatial resolution measurements of passive-sampler derived air concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in the Campania region, Italy: Implications for source identification and risk analysis

Because most relevant studies have used small sample sizes, to date, representative atmospheric monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on a regional scale has been very limited, which makes it difficult to precisely identify “hotspots” and possible pollution sources. In this study, an ultrahigh resolution monitoring technique was used to measure the atmospheric spatial variations in POP concentrations on a regional scale, throughout Campania, Italy. The occurrence of specific POPs—including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and phthalate esters (PAEs)—were investigated using polyurethane foam-based passive air samplers (PUF-PAS), which were deployed at 129 sites across the Campania Territory between April and July 2016. The results show that the highest POP levels occurred in the Naples metropolitan area (NMA), although there were other problematic spots throughout the Territory. More specifically, hotspot areas in the NMA that depict serious POP pollution were found in the Bagnoli brownfield site, Sarno River Basin, and parts of the northeastern NMA sector. The atmospheric POP contamination in Campania is jointly controlled by the contributions of local emissions and long-range atmospheric transport. Diffusion model was employed to identify the potential sources of various POPs. The simulation showed that all the POP sources are located in the NMA and are closely related to industrial sites. This study demonstrates the advantage of using large sample sizes to identify POP source locations and achieve geospatial visualization of POP concentration and risk assessment levels.

Are temporal trends of some persistent organochlorine and organobromine compounds in Swedish breast milk slowing down?

We investigated body burdens of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Swedish first-time mothers by measurements in breast milk, and followed up the temporal trends between 1996 and 2017. POPs were analysed in individual samples (n = 539) from participants from Uppsala county, Sweden. This made it possible to adjust temporal trends for age of the mother, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, weight loss after delivery, and education, the main determinants for POP body burdens, apart from sampling year. We also compared observed body burdens with the body burdens determined to be safe from a health perspective in the risk assessment of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Declining temporal trends in breast milk of on average −4 to 14% per year were observed 1996–2017 for PCBs, PCDD/Fs, chlorinated pesticides, and brominated flame retardants, except for the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) BDE-153 and BDE-209. The toxic equivalents (TEQs) for PCDD declined faster than PCDF TEQs, −6.6% compared to −3.5% per year. For CB-169, CB-180, PCDDs, PCDFs, Total TEQ, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), a change point year (CP) was observed around 2008–2009 and after that, the decline in levels has slowed down. If breast milk levels follows the exponential declining trend of total TEQ estimated for the entire period (−5.7% per year), 97.5% of first time mothers from the Uppsala area will have body burdens below the estimated safe level in year 2022. If instead it follows the estimated % decline after the CP in 2008 (−1.6% per year), it will take until 2045 before 97.5% is below the estimated safe level. It is important to proceed with the monitoring of POPs in breast milk from Swedish mothers in order to further observe if the levels are stabilizing or continue to decline.

Inventories and assessment of POPs in the State of Kuwait as a basis for Stockholm Convention implementation

Since 2006, Kuwait has been a party to the Stockholm Convention (SC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). According to Article 7 of the SC, each party should develop a National Implementation Plan (NIP) and endeavour to implement the plan for the control and elimination of POPs. A first detailed National Implementation Plan has been developed for Kuwait with the support of the Stockholm Convention Regional Center for Capacity-Building and the Transfer of Technology for West Asia (SCRC Kuwait) in KISR. It includes a detailed action plan to manage and control the POPs in the country but also with activities to further give regional support for POPs monitoring and management. The current paper discusses the major inventory findings for the individual POPs groups including POPs pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) as well as Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and unintentional POPs. Besides, information from POPs monitoring studies in Kuwait relevant to the NIP is shortly compiled for further informing on the current situation of POPs in Kuwait. Selected soil samples were collected and analyzed for selected POPs during the NIP development to generate supplementary information to the POP monitoring studies already conducted in Kuwait. Further relevant areas for the POPs management and control were assessed during the NIP development and are listed in the paper. One finding in the NIP assessment was that some of the alternatives used are also bioaccumulative with toxicity in biota and that in the NIP implementation. Also, alternative pesticides in the current use are an issue of concern. Therefore one activity in the implementation of the NIP is the avoidance of regrettable alternatives and the use of more sustainable and green chemicals.

Spatial distribution, patterns and source contributions of POPs in the atmosphere of Great Mendoza using the WRF/CALMET/CALPUFF modelling system

Abstract Global monitoring of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) has allowed the knowledge of levels and distribution around the world as well as the understanding of its transport through the atmosphere. However, there are still some gaps in this regard, especially in some locations, as the case of Great Mendoza, a medium-sized urban area located in the center-west of Argentina. In this work, the WRF/CALMET/CALPUFF modeling system was used to estimate airborne levels of four families of POPs (PCBs, PBDEs, DDTs and HCB) in the study area. The model was validated from measured data obtained from eleven sites using passive air samplers with polyurethane foam disks (PUFs), subsequently analyzed by GC-ECNI/MS. Considering both sets of data, measured and simulated airborne concentrations, five statistical performance metrics were calculated for each family of POP [Mean bias error, (MBE), Fractional Bias (FB), Normalized Mean Square Error (NMSE), Factor of two (Fa2) and Pearson correlation coefficient (r)]. Results exhibited a good agreement between modeled and measured data, showing that WRF/CALMET/CALPUFF modeling system predicts POPs airborne concentrations with reasonable accuracy at a local scale. Model output was used to examine the relative source contribution to ground-level concentrations and to assess the spatial variability of the studied POPs in the study area. Source apportionment showed the prevalence of emissions from open burning of municipal solid waste (ranging from 9% to 90%) on the simulated atmospheric concentrations. HCB presented the lowest mean contribution from this activity (37%) but the highest variability (SD = 20%), followed by PCBs (69 ± 9%), and PBDEs (84 ± 4%). The spatial pattern obtained from simulations exhibited that both, lowest and highest levels predicted by the model, occurred in areas where no samples were taken, suggesting that the real gradient in the POPs air concentrations would be much greater than those reflected by measured data. This work highlights the usefulness of the implementation of an atmospheric dispersion model, not only in the study of air quality and exposure levels but also as a tool for the proper design of monitoring networks, taking into account the time and cost that sampling campaigns take, and the conclusions that are intended to be made from the analysis of the obtained data.

Current Status, Challenges, and Policy Recommendations of China's Marine Monitoring Systems for Coastal Persistent Organic Pollution Based on Experts' Questionnaire Analysis.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) monitoring and management in typical semi-enclosed bays is a major global environmental issue. This study concentrated on a questionnaire survey and analysis of marine environmental management and monitoring departments at all levels in China, and proposed suggestions on the construction and improvement of POPs monitoring and management system. Results show that POPs are initially involved in China’s current marine environmental monitoring system, and the monitoring strength and capability still need to be continuously improved, mainly in the recognition, funding input, relevant standards, monitoring, and evaluation technical regulations of marine environmental POPs monitoring. Therefore, in order to gradually improve the monitoring and management system of China’s offshore marine environment POPs, this study suggests starting from four directions: (1) Building POPs monitoring system of a marine ecological environment, and strengthening POPs monitoring in different environmental media; (2) strengthening land-based POPs emission and the related human activities’ intensity survey, and establishing a POPs information sharing database; (3) optimizing POPs monitoring technology in the marine environment, and improving POPs supervision and management technical support system; and (4) participating in regional and international marine environment POPs monitoring and evaluation projects, and strengthening the construction of talent teams.