Baseline contamination assessment for a new resource recovery facility in Germany. Part V: Analysis and seasonaliregional variability of ambient air concentrations of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN)

Ambient air levels of polychlorinated naphthtalenes (PCN) were monitored at 7 stations in Augsburg, Germany and at one rural background station for 9 months. The atmospheric burden at the background station was 2.5 times less than at the Augsburg stations. The levels for the lower chlorinated PCN in the Augsburg network were quite homogeneous. For Cl5–6N a higher intersite variability was observed. The highest concentrations (ΣPCN) were found in the summer and the homologue pattern was dominated by the lower chlorinated PCN. It was concluded that PCN were introduced into the environment during former industrial use and now cycle between the different media of the biosphere in a manner similar to PCB. Current emissions of PCN can not be ruled out, but are difficult to estimate and likely contribute only a minor part of the mean annual levels in the atmosphere.