On the origin of elevated levels of persistent chemicals in the environment |
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Authors: | Frank Wania |
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Institution: | (1) WECC Wania Environmental Chemists Corp., 280 Simcoe Street, Suite 404, M5T 2Y5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Abstract: | In general, contamination levels tend to be highest close to sources of a chemical and decline with increasing distance as
a result of dilution, dispersion and degradation. However, contrary to this, circumstances have been described when contamination
levels are higher further away from sources than at the sources themselves. Examples are elevated levels of persistent, hydrophobic,
organic chemicals in the Arctic, in mountain regions and in forest soils. In order to address the questions of why and when
such an inversion of environmental levels is occurring, this paper seeks to identify, name and categorise principles of general
validity leading to such behaviour. By compiling and analysing various causes of elevated contamination levels in the environment,
three main categories became apparent, 1. equilibrium partitioning effects, 2. effects resulting from changes in phase composition,
volume or temperature, and 3. dynamic or kinetic effects. These principles are illustrated with several examples. The case
can be made that understanding, quantifying and predicting these causes could provide a general conceptual framework for studying
the fate of chemicals in the environment. |
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Keywords: | Arctic biomagnification cold condensation contamination levels elevated contamination levels equilibrium partitioning effects exposure fate of chemicals forest soils fugacity hydrophobic chemicals mountain regions organic chemicals persistent contaminants |
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