Passive air monitoring of PCBs and PCNs across East Asia: A comprehensive congener evaluation for source characterization

► We monitored atmospheric PCBs and PCNs across East Asia in spring 2008. ► The PCBs were generally one to two orders of magnitude greater than the PCNs. ► Air PCBs have not declined in the sub-region, looking back from 2004. ► Factors accounting for contemporary emissions of PCBs and PCNs were elucidated.