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Elsevier, Environmental Pollution, (181), p. 151-158

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.06.031

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Feasibility of using low density polyethylene sheets to detect atmospheric organochlorine pesticides in Alexandria, Egypt

Journal article published in 2013 by Mohammed A. Khairy, Rainer Lohmann ORCID
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Egypt is a major agricultural country in Africa with a known past of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) application, yet data on atmospheric levels of OCPs in Egypt is sparse. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) passive samplers were therefore deployed for 3 weeks each at 11 locations in July, 2010 and January, 2011 in Alexandria to screen for gas-phase OCPs. Performance reference compounds were used to investigate the uptake kinetics. Field-derived sampler-air partitioning coefficients (KPE-As) for OCPs were significantly correlated against the compounds' subcooled liquid vapor pressure (log PL): [log KPE-A = -0.77 ± 0.07*log PL + 6.35 ± 0.13 (R(2) = 0.90; n = 17; SE = 0.19; p < 0.001)]. Estimated and measured OCP concentrations in Alexandria agreed well (factor difference ≤ 2) indicating the feasibility of monitoring OCPs using LDPEs. OCP concentrations ranged from <LOD to 168 pg/m(3). Calculated isomeric ratios indicated recent usage of chlordanes and endosulfans.