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. 2008 Nov 1;42(21):7873-7.
doi: 10.1021/es801823r.

Discovery of non-aroclor PCB (3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl) in Chicago air

Dingfei Hu  1 , Andres Martinez, Keri C Hornbuckle
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Discovery of non-aroclor PCB (3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl) in Chicago air

Dingfei Hu et al. Environ Sci Technol. .
Free PMC article

Erratum in

  • Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Aug 1;43(15):6113

Abstract

Air samples were collected in Chicago, Illinois in 2007, and 3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB11, CAS 2050-67-1) was detected and quantified using GC/MS/MS in 91% of 184 samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published report of PCB11 in ambient air. This compound is ubiquitous in air throughout the city of Chicago. The annual mean concentration in air samples collected from November 2006 to November 2007 is 24 pg m(-3) (+/-24 pg m(-3) SD), although the seasonal variation is significant. The concentration of PCB11 is up to 15% of measured polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in air but only up to 0.16% of commercial Aroclor mixtures that were banned from production in the 1970s. PCB11 is associated with pigments, paints, and resins and has been reported to be a dominant congener among PCBs detected in the wastewater effluent from paint production. The wide distribution of PCB11 in Chicago air is consistent with volatilization of this compound from painted surfaces although the actual source of PCB11 is unknown.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Molecular structures.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vehicle-mounted high-volume air sampling system.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Multiple reaction monitoring chromatograms for the 222/152.10 ion pair: (a) a representative air sample and (b) calibration standard. The numbers on the tops of peaks represent the PCB number. PCB14 is a surrogate standard.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean distribution of PCB congeners in the Chicago gas-phase air samples.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Atmospheric concentrations (expressed as natural logarithm of partial pressure in atmospheres) of gas-phase PCB11 correlated with ambient temperature (K).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Annual average temperature-normalized concentration of gas-phase PCB11 (left) and the annual average percent of PCB11 of the total PCB congeners (right). The boundaries of communities identified under the 2004 U.S. Census within the city of Chicago are shown. The numbers on the maps are site names. Details for each site are described in the Supporting Information.
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