Long-Range Transported Atmospheric Pollutants in Snowpacks Accumulated at Different Altitudes in the Tatra Mountains (Slovakia)
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorobiphenyls (PCB), endosulfans, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were analyzed in snowpack samples collected along an altitudinal gradient (1683-2634 m a.s.l.) in the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia). All analyzed compounds were found at all altitudes, pointing to their global distribution.
The presence of PBDEs in the snowpack samples is especially relevant, as it reflects the air transport capacity of this low volatile, very hydrophobic pollutant to remote mountain regions. The most abundant compounds at all altitudes were PAHs, 1 order of magnitude higher than concentrations of other compounds.
The regression coefficients were positive and statistically significant (p { 0.05) for all compounds except BDE 209, endosulfan sulfate, HCB and alpha-HCH.