Field-measured uptake rates of PCDDs/Fs and dl-PCBs using PUF-disk passive air samplers in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

The collection of 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-rho-dioxins and dibenzo furans (PCDDs/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) using a polyurethane form (PUF)-disk passive air sampler (PAS) was investigated in urban-residential and industrial areas. This was performed to assess the feasibility of using this method as an alternative to an active air sampler (AAS). The PUF-disk PAS was exposed to ambient air over a period of 37-370 and 57-173 days in urban and industrial areas, respectively, together with AASs. The sum of total toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) Sigma PCDDs/Fs and Sigma dl-PCB was typically high in the industrial,area, with values within the range 0.171-0.635 pg-TEQ/m(3), and 0.037-0.300 pg-TEQ/m(3) in the urban-residential area. To derive the time-weighted average (TWA) concentration from the PAS data accurately, it was estimated that the PAS deployed for less than 80 days was adequate to maintain linear accumulation conditions. PCDDs/Fs are mainly particle bound and showed low average uptake rates of 1.4 m(3) d(-1), while dl-PCBs were slightly higher with 2.0 m(3) d(-1) because of its high vapor pressure. Most of the congener concentrations measured using the PAS and MS were within a factor of two, indicating that PASs can be used to monitor spatial and temporal variations in the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the atmosphere. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.