Atmospheric concentrations and potential sources of PCBs, PBDEs, and pesticides to Acadia National Park

This study assessed concentrations and investigated potential source regions for PCBs, PBDEs, and organochlorine pesticides in Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. Back-trajectories and potential source contribution function (PSCF) values were used to map potential source areas for total-PCBs, BDE-47, and 10 organochlorine pesticides. The constructed PSCF maps showed that ANP receives high pollutant concentrations in air masses that travel along four main pathways: (1) from the SW along the eastern Atlantic seaboard, (2) from the WSW over St. Louis, and Columbus regions, (3) from the west over Chicago, and Toronto regions, and (4) from WNW to NNW over the Great Lakes, and Quebec regions. Transport of all studied pollutants were equally distributed between the first three pathways, with only minor contributions from the last pathway. This study concludes that the high-pollutant concentrations arriving at ANP do not exclusively originate from the major urban centers along the eastern Atlantic seaboard.

► POP concentrations and source areas were determined for Acadia National Park. ► ANP receives high air mass pollutant concentrations from four main pathways. ► Highest PCB concentration events were summer samples derived from three different pathways. ► OCPs arriving at ANP have southern, midwestern, and eastern US source regions. ► POPs do not exclusively originate from urban centers along the eastern seaboard.