Organophosphate Ester (OPE) Flame Retardants and Plasticizers in the Open Mediterranean and Black Seas Atmosphere
- 17 March 2014
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Chemical Society (ACS) in Environmental Science & Technology
- Vol. 48 (6), 3203-3209
- https://doi.org/10.1021/es405337g
Abstract
The presence of organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants and plasticizers has been confirmed for the first time in the atmosphere over the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected during two West East oceanographic cruises across the Mediterranean and in the southwest Black Sea. This comprehensive assessment of baseline concentrations of aerosol phase OPEs, spatial distribution, and related deposition fluxes reveals levels ranging from 0.4 to 6.0 ng m(-3) for the Sigma 14OPEs and a lack of significant differences among subbasins. Levels measured across the Mediterranean Sea and in the Black Sea are in the upper range or higher than those from previous reports for the marine atmosphere, presumably due to proximity to sources. From 13 to 260 tons of OPEs are estimated to be annually loaded to the Mediterranean Sea open waters from the atmosphere. Tris-(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP) was the most abundant compound over the atmosphere of all the Mediterranean and Black Sea sub-basins, and therefore the chemical reaching surface waters at a higher extent by dry deposition. The atmospheric deposition fluxes of phosphorus due to OPE deposition is a significant fraction of known atmospheric inputs of new organic phosphorus (P), suggesting the relevant role that anthropogenic organic pollutants could play in the P cycle.This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Mediterranean Sea: Atmospheric occurrence, deposition and decoupling with settling fluxes in the water columnEnvironmental Pollution, 2012
- Atmospheric concentrations, occurrence and deposition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in a Mediterranean coastal site (Etang de Thau, France)Environmental Pollution, 2011
- Organic micropollutants in wet and dry depositions in the Venice LagoonChemosphere, 2009
- PCDD/F and PCB multi-media ambient concentrations, congener patterns and occurrence in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Etang de Thau, France)Environmental Pollution, 2008
- POPs in the Lagoon of Venice: budgets and pathwaysChemosphere, 2007
- Atmospheric Deposition and Marine Sedimentation Fluxes of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean BasinEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2006
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Atmosphere of the Eastern MediterraneanEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2005
- Wet Deposition of Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Global OceansEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2005
- Atmospheric Dry Deposition of Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Atlantic and Inferences for the Global OceansEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2004
- Mass budget and dynamics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Mediterranean SeaDeep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 1997