Passive ammonia monitoring in the United States: comparing three different sampling devices

The need for ambient gaseous ammonia (NH(3)) measurements has increased in the last decade as reactive NH(3) concentrations and deposition fluxes show little change even with tightening standards on nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) emissions. Currently, there are several networks developing methods for adding NH(3) measurements in the U.S. Gaseous NH(3) measurements will provide scientists and policymakers data which can be used to estimate ecosystem inputs, validate air quality models including trends and regional variability, and evaluate changes to the environment based on additional emission reduction requirements and estimates of critical nitrogen load exceedances. The passive samplers described in this paper were deployed in duplicate or triplicate and collocated with annular denuders or continuous instruments to determine their accuracy. The samplers assessed included the Adapted Low-Cost Passive High Absorption (ALPHA), Radiello(?), and Ogawa passive samplers. The median relative percent differences (MRPD) between the reference method and passive samplers for the ALPHA, Radiello(?) and Ogawa were -2.4%, -37% and -44%, respectively. The precision between duplicate samplers for the ALPHA and Ogawa samplers, was 7% and 6%, respectively. Triplicate Radiello(?) precision was assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV). The CV for the Radiello(?) samplers was 10%. This article discusses the statistical results from these studies.     

Application of HS-SPME in the determination of potentially toxic organic compounds emitted from resin-based dental materials

Leaching of volatile substances from resin-based dental materials may have a potential impact on the biocompatibility as well as safety of these materials. Information from manufacturers on ingredients in the materials is very often incomplete. Patients and dentists may be in contact with components emitted from cured dental fillings or from substrates applied in their preparation. Therefore, determination of the components of these materials is necessary for better prevention from possible harmful effects caused by dental fillings. The aim of this work was the isolation and identification of organic compounds evolved from four commercial resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (resin-based dental materials applied in dentistry) by using an alternative method of volatile compounds analysis-HS-SPME (headspace-solid phase microextraction). Dental materials were heated in closed vial at various temperatures and volatile substances released into the headspace phase above the sample were isolated on a thin polymeric fibre placed in SPME syringe. Identification was performed by using the GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) technique. Almost 50 RMGIC (resin-modified glass-ionomer cement) components (monomers and additives) were identified. The main identified leachables were: iodobenzene (DPICls-diphenyliodonium chloride degradation product), camphorquinone (photo-initiator), tert-butyl-p-hydroxyanisole (inhibitor), 4-(dimethylamino)ethyl benzoate (co-initiator), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (monomer).     

Development of an integrated sensor to measure odors

Odorous air samples collected from several sources were presented to an olfactometer, an electronic nose, a hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) detector and an ammonia (NH(3)) detector. The olfactometry measurements were used as the expected values while measurements from the other instrumentation values became input variables. Five hypotheses were established to relate the input variables and the expected values. Both linear regression and artificial neural network analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Principal component analysis was utilized to reduce the dimensionality of the electronic nose measurements from 33 to 3 without significant loss of information. The electronic nose or the H(2)S detector can individually predict odor concentration measurements with similar accuracy (R (2) = 0.46 and 0.50, respectively). Although the NH(3) detector alone has a very poor relationship with odor concentration measurements, combining the H(2)S and NH(3) detectors can predict odor concentrations more accurately (R (2) = 0.58) than either individual instrument. Data from the integration of the electronic nose, H(2)S, and NH(3) detectors produce the best prediction of odor concentrations (R (2) = 0.75). With this accuracy, odor concentration measurements can be confidently represented by integrating an electronic nose, and H(2)S and NH(3) detectors.     

Local and regional air pollution in Ireland during an intensive aerosol measurement campaign

An intensive two month measurement campaign has been performed during a two year study of major component composition of urban PM10 and PM2.5 in Ireland (J. Yin, A. G. Allen, R. M. Harrison, S. G. Jennings, E. Wright, M. Fitzpatrick, T. Healy, E. Barry, D. Ceburnis and D. McCusker, Atmos. Res., 2005, 78(3-4), 149-165). Measurements included size-segregated mass, soluble ions, elemental carbon (EC) distributions, fine and coarse fraction organic carbon (OC) and major gases along with standard meteorological measurements. The study revealed that urban emissions in Ireland had mainly a local character and therefore were confined within a limited area of 20-30 km radius, without significantly affecting regional air quality. Gaseous measurements have shown that urban emissions in Ireland had clear, but fairly limited influence on the regional air quality due to favorable mixing conditions at higher wind speeds, in particular from the western sector. Size-segregated mass and chemical measurements revealed a clear demarcation size between accumulation and coarse modes at about 0.8 microm which was constant at all sites. Carbonaceous compounds at the urban site accounted for up to 90% of the particle mass in a size range of 0.066-0.61 microm. Nss SO4(2-) concentrations in PM2.5 were only slightly higher at the urban site compared to the rural or coastal sites, while NO3- and NH4+ concentrations were similar at the urban and coastal sites, but were a factor of 2 to 3 higher than at the rural site. OC was highly variable between the sites and revealed clear seasonal differences. Natural or biogenic OC component accounted for <10% in winter and up to 30% in summer of the PM2.5 OC at urban sites. A contribution of biogenic OC component to PM2.5 OC mass at rural site was dominant.     

High temporal resolution monitoring of inorganic nitrogen load in drainage waters

Nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+) and pH were monitored with a novel flow cell equipped with ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) in a drainage pipe during one year. The high temporal resolution of the measurements (six measurements per hour) allowed the detection of diurnal oscillations in pH, NO3- and NH4+ concentrations, the relation of variations in concentrations to discharge rates changing during rain events, understanding of the processes resulting in such variations and tracing of unpredictable manure spills. Annual loads estimated from random samples collected every second day tended to underestimate the "true" loads calculated from quasi-continuous electrode measurements by 550% for NH4+ and 22% for NO3-.     

Characteristics of malodor pollutants and aromatic VOCs around an urban valley in Korea

In this study, the environmental behavior of malodor pollutants (MPs) [including reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs)] and aromatic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs) were investigated around urban valley areas during several field campaigns (February through December 2006). The MPs measured in the study area include the RSCs (H(2)S, CH(3)SH, DMS, and DMDS), ammonia (NH(3)), and styrene (STY); the AVOCs include benzene (BEN), toluene (TOL), ethylbenzene (EB), m,p-xylene (MPX), and o-xylene (OX). The variation of most MP concentrations (except for DMDS) was found to be larger than that of AVOCs. It was found that STY (2,346 +/- 4,867 ppbv) was the most dominant MP followed by NH(3) (447 +/- 285), CH(3)SH (16 +/- 41), and the others (<8). The magnitude of AVOCs was found in the following descending order: TOL (1.4 +/- 2.2 ppbv), EB (1.0 +/- 2.1), MPX (0.9 +/- 2.0), and the others (<0.8). The concentration levels of most MPs on industrial (I) and downwind (D) sites were up to an order of magnitude higher than those at non-industrial (N) and upwind (U) sites. For most AVOCs, the former was ~3 times higher than the latter. For malodor intensity in RSCs, CH(3)SH was the dominant contributor. The concentration difference in target compounds between the sites/periods is likely to be caused by the combined effects such as emission sources, geographical features (e.g., semi-closed topography), and meteorological conditions (e.g., wind directions) in and outside the urban valley.     

Effect of fertilizer application on ammonia emission and concentration levels of ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite ions in a rice field

The concentrations of ammonium NH4+, nitrate NO3-, and nitrite NO2- ions were recorded along with ammonia (NH(3)) emission from a fertilized rice field located in the Kwangju province in South Korea over a period of 4 months (June to October 2006). The highest magnitude of NH(3) flux was 20,754 microg m(-2) h(-1), while the average flux value over the entire sampling period was 2,395 microg m(-2) h(-1). The highest ionic concentrations were 1.67, 0.44, and 0.71 ppm for NH4+, NO3-, and NO2- ions, respectively. Possible effects of soil pH on NH(3) fluxes were detected, as they concurrently exhibited a gradual and periodic change during the sampling period. Positive correlations existed between concentrations of NH4+ and NO2- ions and the soil pH. Positive correlations also existed between NH(3) emission flux and ambient (and water) temperatures. Results indicated that fertilizer application to rice can lead to significant emission of NH(3) along with NH4+ and NO3- ions.     

Can NO(2) be used to indicate ambient and personal levels of benzene and 1,3-butadiene in air?

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between two toxic volatile organic compounds, 1,3-butadiene and benzene, and a commonly used indicator of vehicle exhaust fumes, NO(2). This was to see if NO(2) can be used to indicate personal exposure to carcinogenic substances or at least estimate ambient levels measured at a stationary point. During the winter of 2001, 40 randomly selected persons living in the City of Umea (in the north of Sweden) were recruited to the study. Personal measurements of 1,3-butadiene, benzene and NO(2) were performed for one week, and were repeated for 20 of the 40 participants. Additional information was gathered using a diary kept by each participant. During the same time period weekly stationary measurements were performed at one urban background station and one street station in the city centre. The results from the personal measurements showed a negligible association of NO(2) with 1,3-butadiene (r= 0.06) as well as with benzene (r= 0.10), while the correlation coefficient between 1,3-butadiene and benzene was high and significant (r= 0.67). In contrast to the personal measurements, the stationary measurements showed strong relations between 1,3-butadiene, benzene and NO(2) both within and in-between the street and urban background station. This study supports NO(2) as a potential indicator for 1,3-butadiene and benzene levels in streets or urban background air, while the weak relations found for the personal measurements do not support the use of NO(2) as an indicator for personal 1,3-butadiene and benzene exposure.     

Measurement and Interpretation of Concentrations of Urban Atmospheric Organic Compounds

The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from traffic and other sources in urban areas is a cause for concern about public health. Canister, chemical derivatisation, particulate sampling and adsorption sampling techniques were used to measure VOC concentrations of a wide range of compounds (C6-C40) during a four day campaign in south London with subsequent laboratory analysis of the samples. Compounds quantified included alkanes, mono- and poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Also the first sequential measurements of carbonyl compounds (C1-C8) in a UK urban area are presented. Results from canister and adsorption sampling methods are compared. A comparison of the results with other urban data is presented and the temporal variations in VOC concentrations were interpreted with reference to the prevalent wind speeds and directions. The CALINE4 line source dispersion model was generally successful in reproducing the daytime 12 hour average concentrations of selected VOCs.     

Spatial Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds from a Community-Based Air Toxics Monitoring Network in Deer Park,Texas, USA

In the summer of 2003, ambient air concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured at 12 sites within a 3-km radius in Deer Park, Texas near Houston. The purpose of the study was to assess local spatial influence of traffic and other urban sources and was part of a larger investigation of VOC spatial and temporal heterogeneity influences in selected areas of Houston. Seventy 2-h samples were collected using passive organic vapor monitors. Most measurements of 13 VOC species were greater than the method detection limits. Samplers were located at 10 residential sites, a regulatory air monitoring station, and a site located at the centroid of the census tract in which the regulatory station was located. For residential sites, sampler placement locations (e. g., covered porch vs. house eaves) had no effect on concentration with the exception of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). Relatively high correlations (Pearson r > 0.8) were found between toluene, ethylbenzene, and o,m,p-xylenes suggesting petroleum-related influence. Chloroform was not correlated with these species or benzene (Pearson r < 0.35) suggesting a different source influence, possibly from process-related activities. As shown in other spatial studies, wind direction relative to source location had an effect on VOC concentrations.     

Volatile metabolites from microorganisms grown on humid building materials and synthetic media

Growth of different microorganisms is often related to dampness in buildings. Both fungi and bacteria produce complicated mixtures of volatile organic compounds that include hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds etc. Microbially produced substances are one possible explanation of odour problems and negative health effects in buildings affected by microbial growth. A mixture of five fungi, Aspergillus versicolor, Fusarium culmorum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Ulocladium botrytis and Wallemia sebi were grown on three different humid building materials (pinewood, particle board and gypsum board) and on one synthetic medium. Six different sampling methods were used, to be able to collect both non-reactive volatile organic compounds and reactive compounds such as volatile amines, aldehydes and carboxylic acids. Analysis was performed using gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and ion chromatography, mass spectrometry was used for identification of compounds. The main microbially produced metabolites found on pinewood were ketones (e.g. 2-heptanone) and alcohols (e.g. 2-methyl-1-propanol). Some of these compounds were also found on particle board, gypsum board and the synthetic medium, but there were more differences than similarities between the materials. For example, dimethoxymethane and 1,3,5-trioxepane and some nitrogen containing compounds were found only on particle board. The metabolite production on gypsum board was very low, although some terpenes (e.g. 3-carene) could be identified as fungal metabolites. On all materials, except gypsum board, the emission of aldehydes decreased during microbial growth. No low molecular weight carboxylic acids were identified.     

Occupational exposure to fluorinated hydrocarbons during refrigeration repair work

This study describes refrigeration repair workers' occupational exposures to halogenated refrigerants, focusing on difluorochloromethane (HCFC 22), tetrafluoroethane (HFC 134a) and a mixture of tri-, tetra- and pentafluoroethane (R404A) in 30 work operations. Unlike earlier reported studies, the present study includes working procedures involving welding in order to measure possible occupational exposure to decomposition products. The measurements included hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen chloride (HCl), phosgene (COCl2) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). The exposures were assessed during work operations on small-scale cooling installations like refrigerators and freezers. The repair workers' occupational exposures to refrigerants were moderate, and the major part of the exposures were associated with specific working procedures lasting for relatively short periods of time (<20 min). During these exposure events the concentrations were occasionally high (up to 42434 mg m(-3)). Although welding operations lasted only for short periods of time, HF was detected in 9 out of 15 samples when HCFC 22, HFC 134a or R404A had been used. Hydrogen chloride was detected in 3 out of 5 samples in air polluted with HCFC 22. Phosgene was not detected. A large number of VOCs in various concentrations were found during welding. Except for the applied refrigerants, halogenated compounds were only found in one sample.     

Characterisation of gaseous and particulate atmospheric pollutants in the East Mediterranean by diffusion denuder sampling lines

A field study aimed to characterize atmospheric pollutants in the gaseous and the particulate phases was conducted during the fall-winter of 2004 and the summer of 2005 in the Ashdod area, Israel. The site is influenced by both anthropogenic sources (power plants, refineries, chemical and metal industries, a cargo port, road traffic) and natural sources (sea-spray and desert dust). The use of diffusion lines--a series of annular diffusion denuders for sampling gaseous compounds followed by a cyclone and a filter pack for determining PM(2.5) composition--allowed a good daily characterization of the main inorganic compounds in both the gaseous (HCl, HNO(3), SO(2), NH(3)) and the particulate phase (Cl(-), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(=), NH(4)(+), and base cations). During the summer campaign two other activities were added: an intensive 3-h sampling period and the determination of PM(2.5) bulk composition. The results were interpreted on the basis of meteorological condition, especially the mixing properties of the lower atmosphere as determined by monitoring the natural radioactivity due to Radon progeny, a good proxy of the atmospheric ability to dilute pollutants. Several pollution episodes were identified and the predominance of different sources was highlighted (sea-spray, desert dust, secondary photochemical pollutants). During the summer period a considerable increase of nitric acid and particulate sulphate was observed. Secondary inorganic pollutants (nitrate, sulphate and ammonium) constituted, on the average, 57% of the fine particle fraction, organic compounds 20%, primary anthropogenic compounds 14%, natural components (sea-spray and crustal elements) 9%. The advantages of the diffusion lines in determining gaseous and particulate N- and S- inorganic compounds are discussed.     

Patterns and levels of halogenated volatile compounds in Portuguese surface waters

The present study focused on monitoring the concentration of 14 halogenated volatile organic compounds in surface waters, including sea, estuarine, river water and industrial effluents in order to determine the most ubiquitous compounds and their concentration levels, which were used to establish their geographical and temporal distribution. EPA Method 502, based on purge and trap techniques, was used. In this method volatile organic pollutants are extracted (purged) from the water sample by bubbling inert gas through the aqueous sample. Purged sample components are trapped in a cartridge containing the polymeric sorbent Tenax and, thereafter, the cartridge is heated and backflushed with helium to desorb the trapped sample components directly into a gas chromatograph with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The linearity range of the method varied from 0.1 to 4 microg L(-1) with a limit of detection at the low microg L(-1) level. The present study consisted of a monthly monitoring of 46 points throughout Portugal, during 14 months. Chloroform was found in 50% of the samples analyzed, its presence being correlated to both agricultural and industrial activities. Other compounds detected were tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2,4 trichlorobenzene, which were present in 10-20% of the samples at concentrations up to 18 microg L(-1). 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane and its degradation product 1,1,2-trichloroethane were found in 5% of the samples, the levels of the latter being higher than those of the parent compound in most samples. Sporadic high concentrations of some volatile halogenated organic compounds were attributed to local uses as solvents.     

Design and field application of an automated cartridge sampler for VOC concentration and flux measurements

One of the major limitations in advancing the understanding of tropospheric ozone and aerosol generation and developing strategies for their control is the technical ability to accurately measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This paper describes the design of a constant flow VOC sampler. The versatile sampler can be used for fully automated concentration and flux measurements of VOCs. The sampler incorporates a microprocessor control unit and provides highly accurate mass flow control and significant ease of operation. Sampling sequences can be programmed directly or by remote control through a PC. All important operational parameters necessary for a complete sampling audit trail are logged. Compact weatherproof housings and low power consumption allow operation at remote sites and locations which are sensitive to disturbances or have restricted access. Inner wetted surfaces of the sampler are constructed from non-contaminating materials that do not sorb or emit VOC, and thus permit the collection of representative samples even in environments with very low VOC concentrations. The cartridge magazine provides a maximum of 20 sequential cartridge samples, which allows for long-term air quality assessments. In the dual channel mode, two samples can be collected simultaneously through two independent sample loops, providing ten sequential sample pairs. This design allows the parallel collection of (a) quality assurance backup samples, (b) samples on two different types of cartridges/sorbents to allow a variety of analyses, or (c) differential samples for flux measurements using enclosure, aerodynamic profile, or relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) methods. Field applications including airplane profile measurements above a tropical rainforest area, as well as gradient and REA measurements over a mid-latitude mixed forest stand are described, and demonstrate the validity and flexibility of the system. In particular, the application of the VOC sampler as an integrated part of a REA system is emphasized.     

不同类型机动车尾气挥发性有机化合物排放特征研究

机动车尾气主要成分包括一氧化碳、氮氧化物、碳氢化合物、铅及苯并[a]芘等.其中,挥发性有机化合物由于其对光化学烟雾的贡献及对人体健康的影响而成为近年来大气化学研究的热点.文章首次对北京市9种车辆、5种燃料在不同工况下排放挥发性有机化合物特征进行了定量研究.结果表明,车型、燃料、净化器及工况等因素对排放量产生影响,电喷车比化油器车排放低,其中,夏利比富康与奥迪排放量高;LPG与汽油车排放量最高,柴油车与CNG车排放最低.其中,-10#柴油车比0#柴油车排放更低;使用净化器可以降低挥发性有机化合物排放量;不同工况对排放量的影响随车型、燃料类型的不同而不同.因此,使用清洁燃料、安装净化器和使用电喷装置,可减少尾气中挥发性有机化合物含量.     

Contemporary estimates of atmospheric nitrogen deposition to the watersheds of New York State, USA

Atmospheric inputs of reactive nitrogen (N) to ecosystems are a particular concern in the northeastern USA, including New York State, where rates of atmospheric N deposition are among the highest in the nation. We calculate the seasonal and annual spatial variations of contemporary inorganic atmospheric N deposition loading to multi-scale watersheds across New York State using numerous monitoring datasets of precipitation and ambient atmospheric N concentrations. Our models build upon and refine previous efforts estimating the spatial distribution of N deposition. Estimates of total inorganic wet deposition (NH4-N + NO3-N) across New York ranged from 4.7 to 10.5 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) under contemporary conditions (averaged 2002-2004), and both seasonal and annual predicted rates of inorganic N deposition (NH4-N, NO3-N, and total) fit relatively well with that of observed measurements. Our results suggest that "hot spots" of N deposition are, for the most part, spatially distributed according to geographic positions (i.e., relative location from sources and the Great Lakes system) and elevation. We also detect seasonal variations in deposition, showing that total wet atmospheric inorganic N deposition inputs to watersheds (extracted from the four-digit HUC calculations) are highest during the spring (mean = 2.4 kg ha(-1), stddev = 0.29) and lowest during the winter months (mean = 1.4 kg ha(-1), stddev = 0.23). Results also suggest that wet NO3(-) consistently comprises a slightly higher proportion of wet N deposition than wet NH4+ throughout watersheds of New York, ranging from 2.5 to 6.1 kg NO3-N ha(-1) yr(-1) compared to NH4+, which ranges from 2.2 to 4.4 kg NH4-N ha(-1) yr(-1).     

Direct measurements of urban OH reactivity during Nashville SOS in summer 1999

Emissions of volatile chemicals control the hydroxyl radical (OH), the atmosphere's main cleansing agent, and thus the production of secondary pollutants. Accounting for all of these chemicals can be difficult, especially in environments with mixed urban and forest emissions. The first direct measurements of the atmospheric OH reactivity, the inverse of the OH lifetime, were made as part of the Southern Oxidant Study (SOS) at Cornelia Fort Airpark in Nashville, TN in summer 1999. Measured OH reactivity was typically 11 s(-1). Measured OH reactivity was 1.4 times larger than OH reactivity calculated from the sum of the products of measured chemical concentrations and their OH reaction rate coefficients. This difference is statistically significant at the 1sigma uncertainty level of both the measurements and the calculations but not the 2sigma uncertainty level. Measured OH reactivity was 1.3 times larger than the OH reactivity from a model that uses measured ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), NO, NO2, SO2, and CO. However, it was within approximately 10% of the OH reactivity from a model that includes hydrocarbon measurements made in a Nashville tunnel and scaled to the ambient CO at Cornelia Fort Airpark. These comparisons indicate that 30% of the OH reactivity in Nashville may come from short-lived highly reactive VOCs that are not usually measured in field intensive studies or by US EPA's Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations.     

Changes in precipitation chemistry in Lithuania for 1981-2004

This paper considers the spatial and temporal variability in concentrations of the potentially acidifying ions in precipitation in Lithuania during the 1981-2004 period. Chemical analysis of precipitation included measurements of pH, conductivity, sulfate (SO4(2-)), nitrate (NO3-), chloride (Cl-), ammonium (NH4+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+). Temporal trends in the potentially acidifying ion concentrations in precipitation and wet deposition were evaluated using the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator. A statistically significant decline was observed in non-sea salt sulfate (nssSO4(2-)) and hydrogen (H+) ions concentrations (82% and 79%, respectively) and wet depositions (88% and 74%, respectively). Temporal trends both in concentration and wet deposition of nitrate and ammonium were not as pronounced as trends in sulfate concentration. Analysis of air mass backward trajectories was applied to reveal the influence of air mass originating in different regions on wet deposition of acidifying species in Lithuania. Sector analysis clearly showed that wet deposition of sulfur and nitrogen in Lithuania is to a large extent anthropogenic and the main source regions of acidifying species contributing to wet deposition in Lithuania are in South and Central Europe.     

Tracing the fate of PCBs in forest ecosystems

Forests were shown to play an important role in influencing atmospheric concentrations and transport of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment. World forests cover more than 4 billion hectares and contain up to 80% of the above ground organic carbon. Given the lipophilic nature of POPs, this suggests that forests can influence the environmental fate of POPs at a global scale. POP accumulation in forest canopies still presents points of concern given the complexity of these ecosystems. In particular, the role of ecological parameters such as LAI (leaf area index) and SLA (specific leaf area) and their dynamics during the growing season was not sufficiently investigated yet. This paper reviews, compares and interprets a unique case study in which air and leaf concentrations and deposition fluxes for selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in three different forest types exposed to the same air masses. In order to trace the air-leaf-soil path of these compounds, a dynamic model of POP accumulation into forest canopy was applied. The dynamics of the canopy biomass strongly affected the trend of leaf concentration with time. Growth dilution effect can prevent the more chlorinated compounds from reaching the partitioning equilibrium before litter fall, while the more volatile compounds can approach equilibrium in the range of few weeks. An amount of up to 60 ng of PCBs per square metre of ground surface was predicted to be stored in each of the selected forests at fully developed canopy. Dry gaseous deposition fluxes to forest canopy were estimated to reach a maximum value of about 0.5-1.5 ng m(-2) d(-1) during the spring period.