Sea-Air Exchange of High-Molecular Weight Synthetic Organic Compounds

Studies over the past two decades have verified that man-made organic chemicals are reaching virtually all areas of the earth. Research on persistent chemical compounds in the environment has uncovered traces of chemical contamination in ocean sediments (Hom et al., 1974; Harvey & Steinhauer, 1976), marine fish and mammals (Tanabe et al., 1983; Zell and Ballschmiter, 1980; and Ballschmiter et al., 1981), surface and deep ocean waters (Giam et al., 1978; Tanabe et al., 1982; Harvey & Steinhauer, 1973; deLappe et al., 1983; and Bidleman & Olney, 1974), Antarctic snow (Peel, 1975; and Tanabe et al., 1983), tropical rains (Atlas & Giam, 1981; Bidleman & Leonard, 1982), and in the atmosphere from the Arctic to New Zealand (Atlas & Giam, 1981; Bidleman & Leonard, 1982; Oehme & Mano, 1984; Bidleman et al., 1981; and Giam et al., 1980). Because of their wide dispersion and possible biological consequences, identification of transport mechanisms, transformations, and fate of these chemical contaminants from their source to their ultimate sink is important.