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

Authors

Mohammed A. Khairy
Rainer Lohmann, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

10-2013

Department

Oceanography

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 (K_PE-As) for OCPs were significantly correlated against the compounds' subcooled liquid vapor pressure (log P_L): [log K_PE-A = −0.77 ± 0.07*log P_L + 6.35 ± 0.13 (R² = 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 3. Calculated isomeric ratios indicated recent usage of chlordanes and endosulfans.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Mohammed A. Khairy, Rainer Lohmann, Feasibility of using low density polyethylene sheets to detect atmospheric organochlorine pesticides in Alexandria, Egypt, Environmental Pollution, Volume 181, October 2013, Pages 151-158.

Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.06.031.