PNNL

Abstract

Weekly high volume air samples were collected between July 2002 and June 2003 at Little Fox Lake (LFL) (61.35°N/135.63°W, 1128 m above sea level or m.a.s.l.), Yukon, Canada and between March 2002 and April 2003 at Point Barrow (PB) (71.32°N/156.60°W, 11 m.a.s.l.), Alaska, USA. The two sampling periods overlapped and all samples were analyzed in the same laboratory, i.e., Freshwater Institute, Canada. It is possible to study spatial variation of some organochlorine pesticides (OCs) without considering inter-laboratory correction. Comparison of various compounds can provide insight into their potential sources (e.g., long-range transport (LRT) or local secondary emissions) and environmental pathways at the two sites. Preliminary data analysis focuses on selected OCs, i.e., a-HCH, ?-HCH, dieldrin, pentachloroanisole (PCA), endosulfan I, and chlordanes. These compounds show significantly different air concentrations and seasonality at the two sites.