Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
11-8-2013
Department
Oceanography
Abstract
A field calibration study of low density polyethylene (LDPE) for measuring atmospheric concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was performed in East Providence (RI), USA. LDPE samplers were collected after 3, 7, 10, 14, 17 and 21 days of exposure along with samples from a co-deployed high volume sampler. Uptake kinetics of POPs by LDPEs were confirmed both by using an uptake study over time and the inclusion of performance reference compounds (PRCs). Results indicated that only POPs with log sampler-air partitioning coefficient (KPE-A) ≤ 7.6 were approaching equilibrium by the end of the deployment period, whereas all the other POPs were still in the linear uptake rate. Sampling rates (1.0-80 m3/d) were higher for some POPs when compared to literature values possibly due to the open sampler housing design used. Derived KPE-Asfor the detected POPs in field calibration study were correlated against the compounds’ octanol-air partitioning coefficients (log KOA): [log KPE-A = 0.88+0.02 * log KOA + 0.40+0.21 (R2 = 0.96; n = 59; SE = 0.23)], and their subcooled liquid vapour pressures (log PL, in units?): [log KPE-A = -0.82+0.02 * log PL + 6.22+0.05 (R2 = 0.96; n = 59; SE = 0.22)] to predict values for all POPs. PL was generally found to be a better predictor of KPE-A for all POPs.
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Khairy, M.A., & Lohmann, R. (2013). Field calibration of low density polyethylene passive samplers for gaseous POPs. Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts. doi: 10.1039/C3EM00493
Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C3EM00493G
Author Manuscript
This is a pre-publication author manuscript of the final, published article.
Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable
towards Open Access Policy Articles, as set forth in our Terms of Use.