Peer reviewed: tracking the distribution of persistent organic pollutants

Control strategies for these contaminants will require a better understanding of how they move around the globe.     

持久性有机污染物膳食摄入的研究进展

持久性有机污染物(POPs)在环境中能够普遍存在并且通过食物链能够富集,已经影响到了食品的安全。由于人们通过膳食摄入持久性有机污染物是一个主要的因素,所以人们在日常膳食的过程中持久性有机污染物在一定程度上对人们的健康存在着潜在健康风险。本文综述了近年来国内外有关人们通过膳食摄入不同POPs的膳食暴露情况,包括持久性有机氯农药、二噁英及其类似物、多溴联苯醚、全氟有机化合物等,并且将不同国家和地区的人们对这些化合物膳食摄入量的不同进行了比较和分析。在此基础上,评估了人们对不同POPs膳食摄入的健康风险,希望为进一步开展和健康风险评估相关的研究提供依据。     

Evidence for dynamic air-water coupling and cycling of persistent organic pollutants over the open Atlantic Ocean

Ship-board air samples collected between The Netherlands and South Africa in January-February 2001 were analyzed for PCBs and selected organochlorine compounds. Broad latitudinal trends in compound concentrations were influenced by proximity to source areas, land, and air mass origin. Lowest concentrations were observed in the remote south Atlantic (1-32 degrees S), where sigma7PCB concentrations were approximately 10 pg m(-3). Here, a diurnal cycle was noted for some PCB congeners, with the daytime concentrations higher than the nighttime concentrations, typically by a factor of 1.5-2.5. The data are consistent with a close coupling of air-open ocean concentrations, which has important implications for future rates of POP removal from the global "recyclable pool". The observations are discussed in the context of the potential controlling variables. Interactions between the phytoplankton and the dissolved phase are implicated in controlling the observations made here and a hypothesis to explain the cycling trends is presented. However, the precise mechanisms remain unclear; further studies are urgently required to elucidate them.     

食品中持久性有机污染物现状及对策研究

当前,生态环境持续恶化问题已经引起国际社会的高度重视,从全球范围内看,环境污染问题的加剧,给人类的身体健康带来了极大的威胁,在此背景下,各国政府针对环境污染对人类身体健康所带来的危害与影响问题加大了研究力度,并以专门机构与部门的设置为进一步解决环境问题探寻出路。而持久性有机污染物(POPs)在农药中的运用,使得农产品农药污染问题加剧,并引起了社会的高度重视。本文就食品中持久性有机污染物的现状进行调查与评价,阐述了持久性有机污染的特征,分析了食品中持久性有机污染物的来源与危害,并针对食品中POPs污染现状进行了分析,最后为如何实现对POPs污染物的有效防治提出了对策。     

双壳贝类中的持久性有机污染物生物标志物的研究及其应用

双壳贝类不仅是中国重要的经济水产品种,因其营底栖和滤食的生活习性,常被作为海洋生态系统的指示物种。持久性有机污染物（P0Ps）具有持久性、易蓄积、难降解等特点,对生物造成消极的影响。生物标志物因对污染物响应灵敏,在生物受到严重损害之前即可显示出明显变化,在环境监测领域应用广泛。本文关注了近年来该领域的研究进展,系统介绍了贝类中的POPs生物标志物、主要类型及其相关技术,并对其存在的问题及下一步发展的趋势进行了分析和展望。     

Food web magnificaton of persistent organic pollutants in poikilotherms and homeotherms

Food web magnification of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was determined for the Barents Sea food web using 615N as a continuous variable for assessing trophic levels (TL). The food web investigated comprised zooplankton, ice fauna and fish (poikilotherms, TL 1.7-3.3), and seabirds and seals (homeotherms, TL 3.3-4.2), with zooplankton representing the lowest and glaucous gull the highest trophic level. Concentrations of lipophilic and persistent organochlorines were orders of magnitude higher in homeotherms than in poikilotherms. These compounds had significantly higher rates of increase per trophic level in homeotherms relative to poikilotherms, with the highest food web magnification factors (FWMFs) for cischlordane and p,p'-DDE. Some compounds, such as transnonachlor and HCB, had similar rates of increase throughout the food web, whereas compounds that are more readily eliminated (gamma-HCH) showed no relationship with trophic level. It is preferable to calculate FWMFs with regard to thermal groups, because the different energy requirements and biotransformation abilities between poikilotherms and homeotherms may give different rates of contaminant increase with trophic level. When biomagnification is compared between ecosystems, FWMFs are preferable to single predator-prey biomagnification factors. FWMFs represent a trophic level increase of contaminants that is average for the food chain rather than an increase for a specific predator-prey relationship. The Barents Sea FWMFs were generally comparable to those determined for marine food webs with similar food chain lengths in the Canadian Arctic.     

Oceanic biogeochemical controls on global dynamics of persistent organic pollutants

Understanding and quantifying the global dynamics and sinks of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is important to assess their environmental impact and fate. Air-surface exchange processes, where temperature plays a central role in controlling volatilization and deposition, are of key importance in controlling global POP dynamics. The present study is an assessment of the role of oceanic biogeochemical processes, notably phytoplankton uptake and vertical fluxes of particles, on the global dynamics of POPs. Field measurements of atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), and furans (PCDFs) are combined with remote sensing estimations of oceanic temperature, wind speed, and chlorophyll, to model the interactions between air-water exchange, phytoplankton uptake, and export of organic matter and POPs out of the mixed surface ocean layer. Deposition is enhanced in the mid-high latitudes and is driven by sinking marine particulate matter, rather than by a cold condensation effect. However, the relative contribution of the biological pump is a function of the physical-chemical properties of POPs. It is concluded that oceanic biogeochemical processes play a critical role in controlling the global dynamics and the ultimate sink of POPs.     

On the reversibility of environmental contamination with persistent organic pollutants

An understanding of the factors that control the time trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment is required to evaluate the effectiveness of emission reductions and to predict future exposure. Using a regional contaminant fate model, CoZMo-POP 2, and a generic bell-shaped emission profile, we simulated time trends of hypothetical chemicals with a range of POP-like partitioning and degradation properties in different compartments of a generic warm temperate environment, with the objective of identifying the processes that may prevent the reversibility of environmental contamination with POPs after the end of primary emissions. Evaporation from soil and water can prevent complete reversibility of POP contamination of the atmosphere after the end of emissions. However, under the selected conditions, only for organic chemicals within a narrow range of volatility, that is, a logarithm of the octanol air equilibrium partition coefficient between 7 and 8, and with atmospheric degradation half-lives in excess of a few month can evaporation from environmental reservoirs sustain atmospheric levels that are within an order of magnitude of those resulting from primary emissions. HCB and α-HCH fulfill these criteria, which may explain, why their atmospheric concentrations have remained relatively high decades after their main primary emissions have been largely eliminated. Soil-to-water transfer is found responsible for the lack of reversibility of POP contamination of the aqueous environment after the end of emissions, whereas reversal of water-sediment exchange, although possible, is unlikely to contribute significantly. Differences in the reversibility of contamination in air and water suggests the possibility of changes in the relative importance of various exposure pathways after the end of primary emissions, namely an increase in the importance of the aquatic food chain relative to the agricultural one, especially if the former has a benthic component. Since simulated time trends were strongly dependent on degradation half-lives, partitioning properties and selected environmental input parameters, it should not be surprising, that different field studies often generate highly divergent time trends.     

Wet deposition of persistent organic pollutants to the global oceans

Wet deposition fluxes of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans to the Atlantic Ocean have been estimated by combining meteorological satellite data and measured atmospheric field concentrations. They are then compared to other atmospheric depositional mechanisms on a global scale. Additional features not treated in traditional studies are addressed such as contaminant adsorption onto raindrops and enhancement of dry gaseous diffusive fluxes due to rain-induced turbulence. Wet deposition estimates show a high spatial and seasonal variability, with maxima located in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and in low-temperature regions. Seasonal variability reflects the northward shift of ITCZ in July. Average wet deposition fluxes estimated for the Atlantic Ocean in this study are 110 and 45 ng m(-2) yr(-1) for sigmaPCB and sigmaPCDD/Fs, respectively. Furthermore, the total wet deposition to the Atlantic results in 4100 kg yr(-1) (sigmaPCB) and 2500 kg yr(-1) (sigmaPCDD/Fs). Model validation shows good agreement with available coastal data measurements of wet deposition fluxes. When compared to other atmospheric depositional mechanisms and during precipitation events, wet deposition is found to be dominant. However, when raining events and non-raining time periods are integrated, air-water diffusive exchange fluxes acquire an important role, which can be dominant in some regions and for some POPs.     

我国母乳中持久性有机污染物机体负荷研究进展

母乳是世界卫生组织推荐的作为人生物监测的理想基质,也是履行《关于持久性有机污染物的斯德哥尔摩公约》成效评估的主要基质。为评估普通人群持久性有机污染物机体负荷水平及履约成效评估需要,我国自2007年以来连续开展母乳监测工作,重点对多氯代二苯并二噁英和多氯代二苯并呋喃、多氯联苯、多溴二苯醚等典型持久性有机污染物开展相关监测。获得了表征我国普通人群机体负荷水平的代表性数据以及时空分布状况,为我国履约工作提供了有力支撑。     

湖北省水产品中持久性有机污染物残留状况分析

目的了解湖北省居民日常消费的水产品中持久性有机污染物的残留情况。方法采集水产品品种39种共285批次,采用气相色谱-质谱法测定水产品中的16种多环芳烃、15种有机氯农药及相关降解产物和31种多氯联苯单体残留,并进行统计分析。结果3环化合物检出率为46%,4环化合物检出率为36%,水产样品中检出的多环芳烃类目标物以3环、4环为主,为中、低环化合物,6环化合物在所有样品中均未检出。各品种鱼体内多环芳烃总量排序为:鲫鱼>鳊鱼、刁子鱼>草鱼、财鱼、桂鱼、鲶鱼、鲢鱼>龙虾、泥鳅、黄鳝、黄颡鱼,多环芳烃总量最高的为鲫鱼,检出含量为85.34μg/kg。结论在湖北省养殖环节和流通环节的水产品中,多环芳烃类化合物残留主要为蒽、芴、萘、菲,均为3环、4环化合物;未检出多氯联苯类化合物;水产样品中有机氯农药残留主要为滴滴涕、氧氯丹、六氯苯。     

Time trends of selected persistent organic pollutants in lake sediments from Greenland

Sediments from seven lakes in West Greenland were used as natural archives to study past and present levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls, tri- to decachlorinated), tetra-BDE #47 (2,2',4,4'-bromodiphenyl ether), chlordane (cis- and trans-octachlordane) and HxCBz (hexachlorobenzene). The concentrations found are lower than or comparable to concentrations found in sediments from other Arctic regions and one to 2 orders of magnitude lower than concentrations typically found in sediments at lower latitudes. The observed temporal trends (direct and indirect dating) show a decreasing total PCB concentration. Even though local contamination sources exist, the POP deposition in the studied area is most likely a result from long-range transport. The hypothesis about "cold condensation" suggests a latitudinal fractionation to occur between different volatile compounds during the transport toward the pole. In this study a time delay in the deposition for the low-chlorinated PCBs (tri- and tetrachlorinated), compared to their emission histories and compared to higher chlorinated PCBs, was indicated. Although very low tetra-BDE #47 concentrations are observed in this study, there are indications for an increasing concentration in recent sediment layers that may reflect increasing environmental concentrations at lower latitudes. The investigated pesticides are still in use at lower latitudes, however neither chlordane nor HxCBz show any distinct temporal trend of increasing or decreasing concentration toward the sediment surface.     

Influence of chemical and biological factors on trophic transfer of persistent organic pollutants in the northwater polynya marine food web

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and stable isotopes of nitrogen (delta 15N) were measured in zooplankton (6 species), a benthic invertebrate (Anonyx nugax), Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), seabirds (6 species), and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) collected in 1998 in the Northwater Polynya to examine effects of biological and chemical factors on trophic transfer of POPs in an Arctic marine food web. Strong positive relationships were found between recalcitrant POP concentrations (lipid corrected) and trophic level based on stable isotopes of nitrogen, providing clear evidence of POP biomagnification in Arctic marine food webs. Food web magnification factors (FWMFs), derived from the slope of the POP--trophic level relationship, provided an overall magnification factor for the food web but over and underestimated biomagnification factors (BMFs) based on predator--prey concentrations in poikilotherms (fish) and homeotherms (seabirds and mammals), respectively. Greater biomagnification in homeotherms was attributed to their greater energy requirement and subsequent feeding rates. Within the homeotherms, seabirds had greater BMFs than ringed seals, consistent with greater energy demands in birds. Scavenging from marine mammal carcasses and accumulation in more contaminated winter habitats were considered important variables in seabird BMFs. Metabolic differences between species resulted in lower than expected BMFs, which would not be recognized in whole food web trophic level--POP relationships. The use of sigma POP groups, such as sigma PCB, is problematic because FWMFs and BMFs varied considerably between individual POPs. FWMFs of recalcitrant POPs had a strong positive relationship with log octanol--water partition coefficient (Kow). Results of this study show the utility of using delta 15N to characterize trophic level and trophic transfer of POPs but highlight the effects of species and chemical differences on trophic transfer of POPs that can be overlooked when a single magnification factor is applied to an entire food web.     

Quantifying the perturbations of persistent organic pollutants induced by climate change

A perturbed air-surface coupled model has been developed to simulate and predict perturbations of POPs concentrations in various environmental media under given climate change scenarios. By introducing the perturbations in air temperature and precipitation induced by climate change in the model, we have examined the corresponding perturbations in the concentration of POPs in the closed air-soil and air-water systems. Numerical experiments for several POPs have been conducted based on the possible future climate change scenarios. It was found that hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congener, PCB-153, exhibit strong response to specified climate change scenarios as shown by their high concentrations perturbations in air. In the air-soil system the coupled model predicts 4-50% increases in the air concentrations of these chemicals corresponding to an increase of 0.05-0.1 K yr(-1) in the air temperature. Based on our simulations, a 20% increase/decrease in precipitation can result in a 53% and 4% decrease/increase in perturbed air concentration of γ-HCH and α-HCH, respectively. Also, the model can be used to determine the direction of air-surface exchange of POP perturbations induced by climate change.     

Multivariate data analyses of persistent organic pollutants in maternal adipose tissue in Singapore

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were detected in 88 maternal adipose tissue samples collected during year 2004 to 2006, in Singapore. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were the most dominant followed by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Multivariate data analyses (MVA) including principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-squares regression (PLSR), and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to elucidate the relationship between concentrations of POPs in adipose tissues and donors' characteristics. Food consumption played the most significant role in accounting for levels of POPs in adipose tissue. Fish and poultry consumption was the route of PCBs and PBDEs in mothers in Singapore, while beta-HCH came mainly from vegetables. An age-dependent accumulation of POPs was found for beta-HCH and PCB congeners, and lactation and gestation functioned as a decontamination processes for PCBs in adipose tissue. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may change the profile of POPs in adipose tissue, probably due to an alteration in lipid metabolism. POPs investigated here may not be the cause of antenatal complication in pregnant women, and baby gender was not related to the pattern of contaminants in maternal adipose tissue.     

可蓄积到食物中的持久性有机污染物及其检测技术研究进展

持久性有机污染物(POPs)可通过大气、水、土壤等介质在环境和人体积累,对人的身体健康和生命安全构成威胁。本文综述了持久性有机污染物的种类、危害和治理技术。详细介绍了目前检测方法的研究进展和热点,对各种方法的优缺点进行了分析。旨在为持久性有机污染物的检测提供参考。     

Orographic cold-trapping of persistent organic pollutants by vegetation in mountains of western Canada

Conifer needles from mountain areas of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, were collected from sites that ranged in altitude from 770 to 2200 masl and were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs) to determine if they are progressively concentrated in colder, more elevated mountain areas, where temperatures decrease as elevation increases. Concentrations of OCs in needles ranged from 43 to 2430 pg g(-1), 55-17500 pg g(-1), and 11-2930 pg g(-1) (dry weight), for total hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), PCBs, and endosulfans, respectively. The more volatile OCs, with subcooled liquid vapor pressures (PL) > 0.1 Pa at 25 degrees C, increased at higher altitudes, whereas the less volatile OCs were either unrelated or inversely correlated with altitude. These spatial patterns were similar for species of spruce (Picea engelmannii and glauca) and pine (Pinus contorta and albicaulis). Back trajectories revealed that air masses arriving at these sites traveled over Asia and the Pacific Ocean before reaching the Rocky Mountains. Results from this study demonstrate that alpine ecosystems accumulate these chemicals to the same degree that is observed in polar environments that are known to receive contaminants by long-range transport.