| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4410140 | Chemosphere | 2012 | 8 Pages |
Two monitoring campaigns were conducted in northern Algeria to assess the contamination level of pesticides and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in ambient air. Six pesticides (α- and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, fenitrothion, malathion, chlorpyrifos and λ-cyhalothrin) were monitored at two different sampling locations during the first campaign. The passive sampling was performed at a semi urban/industrial site but also in a rural area between July to September 2008. The pesticides levels, analyzed by GC/MS/MS, ranged from 16 pg m−3 to 11 ng m−3. The second campaign was carried out from May to November 2009. The polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) concentrations were evaluated at an urban/industrial and at an industrial site. The PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs, analyzed by HRGC/HRMS, ranged from 249 to 923 fg TEQ m−3. In addition to passive sampling, active sampling using an isokinetic sampler was also performed at an industrial waste incinerator. The PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs found was 268 pg TEQ m−3. This paper presents the first measurements of PCDD/Fs, dl-PCBs and pesticides in rural, urban and industrial areas of northern Algeria.
► Six pesticides, 17 PCDD/Fs and 12 dl-PCBs were measured in air atmosphere of Algeria. ► The pesticides levels ranged from 16 pg m−3 to 11 ng m−3. ► The mean ratios of α- to γ-HCH indicate that HCH could come from lindane. ► PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs ranged from 18 to 84 pg m−3 in rural/industrial zones. ► PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs level was 7.74 ng m−3 (0.268 pg TEQ m−3) at IWI emission.
