Cooking on wood open fire in developing countries: Emission Factors and indoor air pollution with PCDD/F and Dioxin like PCBs

Indoor air pollution caused by cooking on open fires is a problem of public health with effects in children under 5 years old and women in the reproductive age. In developing countries it has been calculated that about 1,849,000 deaths per year occur associated with exposure to smoke from biomass burning indoors. Apart from the issue of indoor exposure of mainly women and children and the adverse health effects on the spot, open cooking, due to its widespread use, has become an issue what regards the Global emission of POPs. The study presented compares indoor and outdoor air levels in a typical development country environment in Mexico where wood is used for open cooking. It was demonstrated, that under typical cooking scenarios, the indoor exposure with Dioxins and Furans is about twice the exposure outdoors. Due to the low additoinal exposure indoor (when compared to the more dominant exposure through food), it is concluded that the indoor risk are more associated with particulate matter and presumably PAH. Apart from the indoor exposure assessment, emission factors (EFs) for open cooking were obtained. These EFs will be used in the Standardized Toolkit for the quantification of Dioxin and Furan releases, an instrument applied in the compilation of the national Dioxin Inventories in the context of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention of POPs.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Atmospheric Occurrence and Deposition of Polychlorinated Dibenzo- p -Dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the Open Mediterranean Sea

International audienceThe overall objective of this work is to provide the firstevaluation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs) occurrence and deposition to Mediterraneanopen seawater. Σ2,3,7,8-PCDD/F air (gas+aerosol) concentrationsover the Mediterranean Sea ranged from 60 to1040fg m-3. The highest value (1555 fg m-3) was measured in areference sample taken in the SW Black Sea. No consistenttrend regarding the diel cycle of PCDD/Fswasobserved.PCDD/Fs transported to the open sea waters from continental areasand across the Atlantic as well as ship emissions may besignificant sources to the open Mediterranean. Seawaterconcentrations in the Mediterranean ranged from 42 to 64 fgL-1. The Σ2,3,7,8-PCDD/F dry deposition fluxes in theMarmara and Black Seas (210 kg year-1) are from 2 to 55times higher than dry fluxes in the Mediterranean Sea (4-156kg year-1). Analysis of estimated diffusive air-water fluxesand air/water fugacity ratios show that a net volatilization ofsome PCDD congeners is feasible. However, evidence of anet absorption flux for the rest of PCDD/F is found. When bothatmospheric deposition processes are considered togetherthe open Mediterranean Sea is a net sink of PCDD/F, due tothe importance of dry deposition fluxes of aerosol-boundPCDDFs

Atmospheric concentrations, occurrence and deposition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in a Mediterranean coastal site (Etang de Thau, France)

Atmospheric concentrations and deposition fluxes of PCDD/F and PCB have been evaluated over a 1-year period in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Etang de Thau, France). Indicative PBDE air concentrations in the hot season are also reported in this work. Sigma 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs and Sigma 18PCBs (gas + particulate) air concentrations ranged from 67 to 1700 fg m(-3) and from 13 to 95 pg m(-3), respectively whereas Sigma 8PBDEs (gas + particulate) summer time levels varied from 158 to 230 pg m(-3). The PCDD/F and PCB atmospheric occurrence over Thau lagoon and subsequent inputs to the surface waters are determined by an assemble of factors, being the seasonality of atmospheric concentration, the air mass origin and meteorological conditions important drivers. Total (wet + dry) Sigma 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs and Sigma 18PCBs deposition fluxes to Thau Lagoon waters are 117 and 715 pg m(-2) d(-1), respectively

Atmospheric input of POPs into Lake Maggiore (Northern Italy): PCDD/F and dioxin-like PCB profiles and fluxes in the atmosphere and aquatic system

International audienceThe delivery and accumulation of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) as recorded in sediments fromthe Lake Maggiore (LM) in Northern Italy and the influence of the atmosphere in contaminating this subalpineecosystem were studied. PCDD/Fs (17 congeners) and DL-PCBs (12 congeners) concentrations, congenerprofiles and fluxes in air, bulk deposition, aquatic settling material and surface sediments arepresented. Our strategy was to obtain surface sediment from areas near riverine inputs and in the depositionalbasins, settling material in sediment traps at one site and air, aerosol and bulk deposition profiles.PCDD/F concentrations in air of 25 WHO-TEQ fg m-3 and DL-PCBs of 7 WHO-TEQ fg m-3 were measured.Bulk atmospheric deposition yielded 140 and 28 WHO-TEQ pg m-2 per week for dioxins/furans and DLPCBs,respectively. Aquatic settling material exhibited concentrations of 11 WHO-TEQ pg g-1 for PCDD/Fsand 2 WHO-TEQ pg g-1 for DL-PCBs. Weekly settling material fluxes of 50 WHO-TEQ pg m-2 and 10WHO-TEQ pg m-2 were obtained for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs, respectively. PCDD/Fs concentrations in surfacesediments varied from 0.1 to 17 WHO-TEQ pg g-1 whereas values ranged from 0.03 to 6 WHOTEQpg g-1 for DL-PCBs. The concentrations obtained in the environmental compartments studied suggesta situation of low level contamination.PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs congener profiles in atmospheric air, bulk deposition, aquatic settling matterand surface sediment point to an important if not dominant contribution from atmospheric depositionto Lake Maggiore, especially derived from wet deposition of aerosol-bound PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs. Fluxestimates support this hypothesis

Atmospheric input of POPs into Lake Maggiore (Northern Italy): PBDE concentrations and profile in air, precipitation, settling material and sediments

International audienceLarge lakes are sinks for many chemical pollutants but the role of the atmosphere in delivering PBDEs(polybrominated diphenyl ethers) is not well known. In this study we estimated inputs of PBDEs fromthe atmosphere to Lake Maggiore and the delivery via settling material to accumulated bottom sediments.Sampling consisted of one simultaneous week of air and bulk deposition during Spring 2005,an integrated 4-month period of collected settling material (via sediment trap), and superficial bottomsediments near the sediment trap deployment and tributary mouths of the lake.Concentration of total PBDEs (P8) in the sediments ranged between 0.06 and 27 ng g-1, and two differentpatterns were observed. One pattern was dominated by BDE-47 and BDE-99 and a second by BDE-209. The latter pattern suggested input from local source(s). Total PBDEs in air were 107 pg m-3 with apattern dominated by BDE-47. The bulk deposition rate of total PBDEs for precipitation was measuratedto be 17.6 ng m-2 day-1 where BDE-209 exhibited the highest concentration. For aquatic settling materialthe flux was 3.57 ng m-2 day-1 and was dominated by congeners BDE-47 and BDE-99.The bulk deposition and settling material fluxes were in the same range for the less brominated congeners,while for the hepta- and deca-brominated PBDEs the fluxes in the settling material were one orderof magnitude lower. This suggests different sedimentation processes among congeners and/or the presenceof local sources that influence the relative distribution in water column

Atmospheric Occurrence and Deposition of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the Open Mediterranean Sea

The overall objective of this work is to provide the first evaluation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) occurrence and deposition to Mediterranean open seawater. ∑2,3,7,8-PCDD/F air (gas+aerosol) concentrations over the Mediterranean Sea ranged from 60 to1040 fg m−3. The highest value (1555 fg m−3) was measured in a reference sample taken in the SW Black Sea. No consistent trend regarding the diel cycle of PCDD/Fs was observed. PCDD/Fs transported to the open sea waters from continental areas and across the Atlantic as well as ship emissions may be significant sources to the open Mediterranean. Seawater concentrations in the Mediterranean ranged from 42 to 64 fg L−1. The ∑2,3,7,8-PCDD/F dry deposition fluxes in the Marmara and Black Seas (210 kg year−1) are from 2 to 55 times higher than dry fluxes in the Mediterranean Sea (4−156 kg year−1). Analysis of estimated diffusive air−water fluxes and air/water fugacity ratios show that a net volatilization of some PCDD congeners is feasible. However, evidence of a net absorption flux for the rest of PCDD/F is found. When both atmospheric deposition processes are considered together the open Mediterranean Sea is a net sink of PCDD/F, due to the importance of dry deposition fluxes of aerosol-bound PCDDFs.theTHRESHOLDSintegrated project (003933-2), funded by the Framework Program 6 of the EU, and a complementary action (CTM2005- 24238-E) funded by the “Plan Nacional de I+D”, Spanish Ministry of Science and InnovationPeer reviewe

PCDD/F and PCB multi-media ambient concentrations, congener patterns and occurrence in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Etang de Thau, France)

International audienceAmbient concentrations, congener patterns and multi-media distribution of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were determined in air, water, sediment andmussels in a semi-enclosed marine ecosystem (Thau lagoon, France). sum2,3,7,8-PCDD/F and sum7ICES PCB air concentrations (0.2-1.4 and31-57 pg m-3, respectively) were typical of rural areas. Concentrations in the water column were very low for PCDD/Fs (163-476 fg L-1)and low for PCBs (138-708 pg L-1). PCDD/F and PCB concentrations found in surface sediment (0.15-1.6 and 2.5-33 ng g-1 d.w., respectively)and mussel (13-21 pg g-1 d.w. and 10-39 ng g-1 d.w., respectively) were medium levels. PCDD/F congener patterns observed in air,water particulate phase and sediments were similar suggesting direct coupling among these compartments and atmospheric inputs of PCDD/Fsinto the lagoon. Conversely, for the same set of samples, similar patterns were not observed for PCBs in the mentioned compartments

PCDD/Fs Occurrence in a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon (Etang de Thau, France): Concentrations and Patterns in Different Environmental Compartments

Thau lagoon is one of the largest Mediterranean lagoons. Located on the French Mediterranean coast along the Gulf of Lion (Figure 1), it covers a surface of 75 km2 with an average depth of 4.5 m and is isolated from the Mediterranean Sea by an offshore bar. The lagoon appears to be under an intense anthropogenic pressure. For instance, the results of the French Monitoring Network (RNO Réseau National d’Observation) shows high contamination of the Thau lagoon sediments by hydrophobic organic compounds such as, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 1. However, only few data in relevant environmental compartments from Thau lagoon on other important groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), like polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), have been reported to date. Moreover, the dynamics, long term impacts and ultimate fate of the contamination induced by these chemicals in the lagoon is not well known. The aim of this work was to investigate the PCDD/Fs concentrations and patterns in air (where no data are available yet), sediments and mussels from Thau Lagoon. The influence of the atmosphere in the accumulation of these POPs in the aquatic system was studied. Two land air sampling sites were set up in the lagoon and sediments and mussels samples were collected from selected stations. Total PCDD/Fs air concentrations (particle + gas phase) measured ranged from 6.9 to 25.7 WHO-TEQ fg m-3. A concentration of 13.8 WHO-TEQ pg g-1 was found for PCDD/Fs in surface sediments and a value of 0.8 WHO-TEQ pg g-1 was found for the analyzed mussels in the lagoon.JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

PCDD/F and PCB Multi-media Ambient Concentrations, Congener Patterns and Occurrence in a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon (Etang de Thau, France)

Ambient concentrations, congener patterns and multi-media distribution of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were determined in air, water, sediment and mussels in a semi-enclosed marine ecosystem (Thau lagoon, France). ¿2,3,7,8- PCDD/Fs and ¿7PCBs air concentrations (0.2-1.4 and 31-57 pg m-3, respectively) were typical of rural areas. Concentrations in the water column were very low for PCDD/Fs (163-476 fg l-1) and low for PCBs (138-708 pg l-1). PCDD/F and PCB concentrations found in surface sediment (0.15-1.6 and 2.5-33 ng g-1 d.w., respectively) and mussel (13-21 pg g-1 d.w. and 10-39 ng g-1 d.w., respectively) were medium levels. PCDD/F congener patterns observed in air, water particulate phase and sediments were similar suggesting direct coupling among these compartments and atmospheric inputs of PCDD/Fs into the lagoon. Conversely, for the same set of samples, similar patterns were not observed for PCBs. A different behavior regarding the uptake of PCDD/Fs and PCBs by lagoon mussels was observedJRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource