Persistent organic pollutants in air from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific

In support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) global monitoring plan under the Stockholm Convention concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined during two years in air from 42 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific by using polyurethane foams installed in passive samplers. The compounds included were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), one polybrominated biphenyl and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) diastereomers. Total-DDT and PCBs were the highest in concentrations in about 50% of the samples, which shows their high persistency. Total DDT in air from the Solomon Islands ranged from 200 to 600 ng/polyurethane foam disk (PUF). However, at most locations, a decreasing trend is observed for PCBs, DDT and most other OCPs. Patterns varied per country with e.g. elevated dieldrin in air from Barbados and chlordane in air from the Philippines. A number of OCPs, such as heptachlor and its epoxides, some other chlordanes, mirex and toxaphene have decreased down to almost undetectable levels. PBB153 was hardly found and penta and octa--mix related PBDEs were also relatively low at most locations. HBCD and the decabromodiphenylether were more prominent at many locations and may even still increase. To draw more holistic conclusions more colder climate countries should be included in this program.