Żaneta Polkowska

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in bulk precipitation and runoff waters in an urban region (Poland)

Abstract Determination of the PAHs in precipitation and runoff waters permits the identification of the ways of their dissemination in the environment. The task is complicated by the two forms with which the compounds are present in these samples, i.e. dissolved in water and adsorbed on solid particles (dust). The study presented in this paper includes tracing of 16 selected compounds from the PAHs group at 10 precipitation sampling sites and 5 runoff sampling sites located across the “Threecity” (Gdansk–Sopot–Gdynia). The recovery was performed using the solid phase extraction technique. PAH determinations were carried out by means of a GC-MS system. Among the 16 compounds selected for the study, naphthalene, phenanthrene+anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene were found most frequently and at top concentrations (from few ngxa0l −1 up to several hundred ngxa0l −1 ), while dibenzo( a,h )anthracene, indeno(1,2,3- c,d )pyrene, benzo( a )pyrene, and benzo( g,h,i )perylene were present at concentrations close to the detection limit only. An attempt to correlate PAHs concentration with the percentage of coal stoves used for heating in the area gave coefficient of correlation ( R 2 ) equal to 0.85 and 0.78, for rainwater and runoff, respectively, while PAHs concentration vs. traffic intensity correlation yielded the respective values of 0.40 and 0.54.

Organic pollutants in precipitation: determination of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Gdansk, Poland

Abstract The paper presents the results of determination of selected organic pollutants in atmospheric precipitation. Samples of atmospheric precipitation in the form of rain water and snow were collected in five places in the area of Gdansk, which enabled some conclusions to be drawn on the influence of sampling position on the content of samples. Two different groups of compounds were determined: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pesticides. All applied analytical methods were previously checked out and used for other types of water samples (e.g. river waters, sea waters, drinking water). Capillary gas chromatography with specific detectors was used for final determination. Samples were collected during two separate periods of six months each, which permits us to find out some qualitative and quantitative changes of organic compounds in an urban area in different seasons. The most often detected pesticides were: terbuthylazine and chlorfenwinfos, whereas bromophos and atrazine occurred rarely. If detected, the concentration of pesticides ranged from 1 to 920xa0ngxa0dm −3 . The total concentration of the measured polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons varied between 1xa0ngxa0dm −3 and 12.8xa0μgxa0dm −3 . Among all PAHs phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene were the most often determined compounds.

Quality of roof runoff waters from an urban region (Gdańsk, Poland).

The paper presents the results of testing of roof runoff waters from buildings in the city of Gdańsk (Poland), carried out as a part of a broader research project aimed at the determination of pollutant levels in precipitation. The analytes determined included volatile organohalogen compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, Na+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+, F-, Cl-, NO2-, NO3-, PO4(3-), SO4(2-) ions, as well as organonitrogen, organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides. In addition, the toxicity and pH of the samples were examined. The samples were collected over a period of six months, during or immediately following precipitation events. More than half of the samples (25) were found to be toxic, with inhibition exceeding 20%. The toxicity was weakly correlated to the levels of organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides in runoff waters. It was established that at least in some cases the roofing material affected the levels of the pollutants found in the samples.

Biological Fluids as a Source of Information on the Exposure of Man to Environmental Chemical Agents

The human body is exposed to a variety of environmental pollutants. Many chemical compounds, including volatile organochlorine compounds and metals, have a harmful effect on the tissues and organs of the human body, in many cases causing irreversible damage and illnesses. In order to assess the degree of occupational hazard, it has become more and more common to determine the concentrations of chemical substances or their metabolites in biological fluids (i.e., in urine, blood, or less often, in human milk, bile, saliva, and sperm). However, in order to determine concentrations levels of trace components in biological fluids such as urine, blood, milk, bile, saliva, or sperm, the samples collected have to be prepared for the final analysis because their matrix is so complex as to preclude direct determination of the analytes by any analytical method available. This article contains the literature data on: analyte isolation and/or enrichment techniques from samples of biological fluids prior to the final determination step; and final determination techniques for a variety of compounds, both organic and inorganic, being determined in the above samples. The data include both the primary pollutants that found their way into the human body as a result of environmental and occupational exposure and the products of their conversion (metabolism) in the organism.

Pesticides in precipitation in the Gdansk region (Poland)

Selected organonitrogen, organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides have been determined in precipitation samples collected at 10 sites in the Gdańsk region (northern Poland) over a period of one year (1998). Compounds which were detected most often included simazine (0.11-5.80 ng/l), fenitrothion (0.1-2.10 ng/l), chlorfenvinfos (0.1-1.30 ng/l), gamma-HCH (0.012-5.06 ng/l), heptachlor epoxide (0.05-3.28 ng/l) and aldrin (0.02-3.28 ng/l). The pesticide concentrations in precipitation samples revealed seasonal fluctuations, with higher concentrations observed during the application periods (June and July). The concentrations observed were also affected by the inflow of polluted air masses from the southwest. The total pesticide concentration in the precipitation samples was strongly related to the abundance of green areas in the vicinity of the sampling sites. A weak correlation was also found between the total concentration of organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides, and the total concentration of organochlorine pesticides in the samples collected.

Relationship between volatile organohalogen compounds in drinking water and human urine in Poland

Selected volatile organohalogen compounds (VOX) were investigated in urine samples from people living in different areas of the Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia TriCity (Poland). The analytes were isolated and preconcentrated using the so-called thin layer headspace technique with autogenous generation of the liquid sorbent. Final gas chromatographic determination was carried out by direct aqueous injection with electron capture detection. Analyte concentrations in drinking water ranged from not detected to approximately 8 microg/l (chloroform), depending on the source of drinking water in a given part of the TriCity (underground, surface or mixed). The corresponding urine levels were typically lower by about an order of magnitude. VOX levels in urine of people living in the parts of the TriCity supplied with drinking water containing elevated levels of the analytes were higher than the levels in urine of people whose drinking water originated from deep underground wells. The linear correlation coefficients for the relationships between total VOX and chloroform levels in drinking water and in urine were r2=0.65 and 0.88, respectively. The fraction of VOX excreted with urine in unchanged form did not exceed 20%.

Pesticides in Precipitation from an urban region in Poland (Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia Tricity) between 1998 and 2000

Selected organonitrogen, organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticideshave been determined in precipitation samples collected at ten sites in the Gdańsk region (northern Poland) over a period of three years (1998–2000). The following compounds were detected the most frequently: simazine (1–58 ng L-1), atrazine (1–44), propazine (1–21), fenitrothion (1–21 ng L-1), chlorfenvinfos (1–13 ng L-1),α-HCH (1–12 ng L-1), p,p′DDT (1–10 ng L-1), o,p′DDE (1–6 ng L-1) and o,p′DDD (1–6 ng L-1). The pesticide concentrations in precipitation samples revealed seasonalfluctuations, with higher concentrations observed during the applicationperiods (June and July). The concentrations observed were also affectedby the inflow of polluted air masses from the southwest. The total pesticide concentration in the precipitation samples was strongly related to the abundance of green areas in the vicinity of the sampling sites. A weak correlation was also found between the total concentration of organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides, andthe total concentration of organochlorine pesticides in the samples collected.

Theoretical principles of thin layer headspace analysis

Theoretical principles of thin layer headspace (TLHS) analysis are reviewed. TLHS utilizes a special heated column in which a continuously flowing thin film of a liquid sample is contacted with a continuously flowing pure gas. Volatile analytes contained in the liquid sample pass to the gas phase and are carried away from the column. For the determination of volatile organic halogen (VOX), the analytes in the gas are mineralized at 900°C, and the mineralization products (hydrogen halides) are absorbed in an appropriate solvent in a second TLHS column kept at ambient or sub‐ambient temperature. The mineralization products can be quantified in the liquid sorbent using conductometric, spectrophotometric, as well as direct and indirect potentiometric methods. The unique feature of this method is the dynamic preconcentration of the analyte in the liquid sorbent. When analyte speciation is required, the liquid sorbent can be generated in TLHS column II by condensation of the water vapour carried by the gas from...

Sampling of Atmospheric Precipitation and Deposits for Analysis of Atmospheric Pollution

This paper reviews techniques and equipment for collecting precipitation samples from the atmosphere (fog and cloud water) and from atmospheric deposits (dew, hoarfrost, and rime) that are suitable for the evaluation of atmospheric pollution. It discusses the storage and preparation of samples for analysis and also presents bibliographic information on the concentration ranges of inorganic and organic compounds in the precipitation and atmospheric deposit samples.

Studies on Intercorrelation between Ions Co-Occurring in Precipitation in the Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia Tricity (Poland)

The paper presents monitoring results and environmental pollution assessment for the Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia Tricity (Poland), based onanalysis of precipitation. Precipitation samples were collected over a period of 12 months (January–December 1998) at ten locations in the Tricity. The following selected ions were determined in the samples:SO42−, F−, Cl−, NO3−,PO43−, NH4+, Na+,Mg2+, Ca2+, K+. The results were subjected to full statistical evaluation. Values of the parameters determined were correlated with each other. An attempt was made to explain co-occurrences of certain ions and the significance of their mutual effects. Pollutant concentrations and loads in precipitation were also correlated with data on wind direction and temperature in the region.Deposition of pollutants was very high in spring due to the prevailing air circulation patterns and low temperatures. Analysis of the correlations between co-occurring ions confirmed the significant impact of the location (sea coast) on the composition of rain water. Ionic ratios in rainwater were similar to those observed for sea salt samples. In addition, heavy traffic was most probably responsible for high concentrations of various forms of nitrogen and sulphates in the vicinity of major highways.