The variability of polychlorinated biphenyls levels in urban soils from five European cities

A. Cachada; L. V. Lopes; A. S. Hursthouse; M. Biasioli; H. Grcman; E. Otabbong; C. M. Davidson; A. C. Duarte

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.002

The variability of polychlorinated biphenyls levels in urban soils from five European cities

A. Cachada, L. V. Lopes, A. S. Hursthouse, M. Biasioli, H. Grcman, E. Otabbong, C. M. Davidson, A. C. Duarte

School of Health and Life Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

79 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The concentration of PCBs in topsoils from five European cities was assessed and the highest levels were found in Glasgow (Scotland), followed by Torino (Italy), Aveiro (Portugal), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Uppsala (Sweden). All cities showed the presence of local sources in addition to diffuse contamination from global atmospheric transport. The association of general soil parameters with PCBs in Glasgow and with heavier congeners in Torino and Ljubljana indicates that retention of these compounds is occurring. The profiles obtained resemble Aroclor 1254 and 1260, which are important local sources. Nevertheless, differences in PCB profiles were observed among cities, due to the combined effects of the age of the contamination (which determines the time available for volatilisation and degradation), different sources of PCBs and differences in climate (which influence volatilisation and deposition).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	511-518
Journal	Environmental Pollution
Volume	157
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.002
Publication status	Published - Feb 2009

Keywords

Urban soils
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Congener profiles
Source identification

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.002

Cite this

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title = "The variability of polychlorinated biphenyls levels in urban soils from five European cities",

abstract = "The concentration of PCBs in topsoils from five European cities was assessed and the highest levels were found in Glasgow (Scotland), followed by Torino (Italy), Aveiro (Portugal), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Uppsala (Sweden). All cities showed the presence of local sources in addition to diffuse contamination from global atmospheric transport. The association of general soil parameters with PCBs in Glasgow and with heavier congeners in Torino and Ljubljana indicates that retention of these compounds is occurring. The profiles obtained resemble Aroclor 1254 and 1260, which are important local sources. Nevertheless, differences in PCB profiles were observed among cities, due to the combined effects of the age of the contamination (which determines the time available for volatilisation and degradation), different sources of PCBs and differences in climate (which influence volatilisation and deposition).",

keywords = "Urban soils, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Congener profiles, Source identification",

author = "A. Cachada and Lopes, {L. V.} and Hursthouse, {A. S.} and M. Biasioli and H. Grcman and E. Otabbong and Davidson, {C. M.} and Duarte, {A. C.}",

year = "2009",

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doi = "10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.002",

language = "English",

volume = "157",

pages = "511--518",

journal = "Environmental Pollution",

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publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The variability of polychlorinated biphenyls levels in urban soils from five European cities

AU - Cachada, A.

AU - Lopes, L. V.

AU - Hursthouse, A. S.

AU - Biasioli, M.

AU - Grcman, H.

AU - Otabbong, E.

AU - Davidson, C. M.

AU - Duarte, A. C.

PY - 2009/2

Y1 - 2009/2

N2 - The concentration of PCBs in topsoils from five European cities was assessed and the highest levels were found in Glasgow (Scotland), followed by Torino (Italy), Aveiro (Portugal), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Uppsala (Sweden). All cities showed the presence of local sources in addition to diffuse contamination from global atmospheric transport. The association of general soil parameters with PCBs in Glasgow and with heavier congeners in Torino and Ljubljana indicates that retention of these compounds is occurring. The profiles obtained resemble Aroclor 1254 and 1260, which are important local sources. Nevertheless, differences in PCB profiles were observed among cities, due to the combined effects of the age of the contamination (which determines the time available for volatilisation and degradation), different sources of PCBs and differences in climate (which influence volatilisation and deposition).

AB - The concentration of PCBs in topsoils from five European cities was assessed and the highest levels were found in Glasgow (Scotland), followed by Torino (Italy), Aveiro (Portugal), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Uppsala (Sweden). All cities showed the presence of local sources in addition to diffuse contamination from global atmospheric transport. The association of general soil parameters with PCBs in Glasgow and with heavier congeners in Torino and Ljubljana indicates that retention of these compounds is occurring. The profiles obtained resemble Aroclor 1254 and 1260, which are important local sources. Nevertheless, differences in PCB profiles were observed among cities, due to the combined effects of the age of the contamination (which determines the time available for volatilisation and degradation), different sources of PCBs and differences in climate (which influence volatilisation and deposition).

KW - Urban soils

KW - Polychlorinated biphenyls

KW - Congener profiles

KW - Source identification

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.002

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.002

M3 - Article

SN - 0269-7491

VL - 157

SP - 511

EP - 518

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

IS - 2

ER -

The variability of polychlorinated biphenyls levels in urban soils from five European cities

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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