CEC SPA "Typhoon"Tiksi Meeting, Boulder, 7 March 20071 Experience in monitoring of airborne POPs, mercury and other metals in Russian Arctic. Perspectives

CEC SPA "Typhoon" Tiksi Meeting, Boulder, 7 March 2007 1

Experience in monitoring of airborne POPs, mercury and other metals in

Russian Arctic. Perspectives for Research Program at Tiksi

Observatory

Alexey Konoplev

Centre for Environmental Chemistry (CEC)

SPA “Typhoon”, Obninsk, Russia, [email protected]

Experience in monitoring of airborne POPs, mercury and other metals in

Russian Arctic. Perspectives for Research Program at Tiksi

Observatory

Alexey Konoplev

Centre for Environmental Chemistry (CEC)

SPA “Typhoon”, Obninsk, Russia, [email protected]


Identification and quantitative Identification and quantitative analysis of PTS; analysis of PTS;

Monitoring of PTS in the Monitoring of PTS in the environment and biota;environment and biota;

Mechanisms of migration and Mechanisms of migration and transformation of PTS in the transformation of PTS in the environment and process-environment and process-level modelinglevel modeling

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIESPRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES OF THE CEC SPA “TYPHOON” OF THE CEC SPA “TYPHOON”


ANALYTICAL METHODSANALYTICAL METHODS

For Organic Contaminants: For Organic Contaminants: Capillary Gas Chromatography Capillary Gas Chromatography (CGC) and Gas (CGC) and Gas Chromatography/Mass-Chromatography/Mass-spectrometry (GC/MS)spectrometry (GC/MS)

For Heavy Metals: Atomic For Heavy Metals: Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) using both flame and Zeeman using both flame and Zeeman graphite-furnace AAgraphite-furnace AA

The Center has specially equipped The Center has specially equipped rooms for sample storage, sample rooms for sample storage, sample preparation, sample extraction and preparation, sample extraction and instrumental analysisinstrumental analysis


POPs and Hg air monitoring at Russian Arctic sites

POPs and Hg air monitoring at Russian Arctic sites

Amderma: - POPs – 2001 - 2003;- Hg – 2001 – 2007

Dunay:- POPs – 1993 – 1994

Val’karkay (Chukchi):- POPs – 2002-2003


MONITORING OF AIRBORN PMONITORING OF AIRBORN POPsOPs IN IN RUSSIAN ARCTICRUSSIAN ARCTIC


Relevant previous and ongoing programs

Relevant previous and ongoing programs

In Canada POPs monitoring has been operating at Alert since 1992;

In USA – Point Barrow;

In Norway - Ny Alesund;


Objectives of POPs air monitoring

Objectives of POPs air monitoring

To measure the concentrations of selected POPs in the atmosphere of Russian Arctic

This provides the opportunity to make comparative analysis of POPs in the ambient air for different areas of the Arctic and the basis for modelling of their environmental transport

The data allow to assess the efficacy of international Conventions such as Stockholm Convention on POPs and Convention on transboundary air pollution


The list of determined compounds includes 154 individual substances:

The list of determined compounds includes 154 individual substances:

46 OCP and their metabolites (chlorobenzenes, DDT, mirex, Toxaphenes, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, chlordane etc.);

88 PCB congeners;20 PAH.


Methods and materialsMethods and materialsThe same protocols of sampling and analyses are used as for Arctic Air Toxics Network in CANADA and AMAP


Methods and materialsMethods and materials

Weekly samples are collected by means of a high volume sampler with a size-selective inlet for particles and a collection cartridge consisting of a glass fibre filter (particles < 10 m) followed by two polyurethane foam (PUF) sorbent plugs (organic vapours). Samples are shipped to the laboratory and extracted with hexane (PUFs) or dichloromethane (filters). Approximately one-half of the extract is used for clean-up and analysis by GC-MS.


Air POPs monitoring: Summary


In general atmospheric concentrations of most OCP at Amderma are similar to other Arctic sites

Levels of PAH at Amderma are consistent with levels from Dunai where annual average levels were greater than at Canadian Arctic sites

Concentrations of a number POPs especially PCBs and PAH at Val’karkay (Chukchi) are elevated as compare to Amderma and Dunay




Atmospheric PCB contamination in Amderma during summer was rather due to evaporation from underlying surface than due to their long-range transport

In winter, contribution of long-range transport was sufficiently high and apparently determined the atmospheric PCB concentrations in Amderma

Temporally all of the data for Arctic sites are not being collected concurrently making comparison of absolute levels difficult as these are affected by multiple factors including the important influence of meteorology that is highly variable


Objectives of Hg air monitoring

Objectives of Hg air monitoring

To establish monitoring station for Atmospheric Mercury Measurements in Russian Arctic

To obtain data on time dependency of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) for Russian site and to compare with data sets for other Arctic stations


Sites of monitoring stations at Amderma

Sites of monitoring stations at Amderma


Instrument: TEKRAN 2537A Mercury Vapor Analyzer

Instrument: TEKRAN 2537A Mercury Vapor Analyzer

Training in Obninsk

Training in Amderma


Regular visits to the site Regular visits to the site


Time dependency of mercury concentration at Amderma, 2001-

2007

Time dependency of mercury concentration at Amderma, 2001-

2007

0

2

4

6

8

10

Hg

co

nce

ntr

atio

n,

ng

/m3

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006


Hg monitoring at Amderma - Main Conclusions

Hg monitoring at Amderma - Main Conclusions

Gaseous elemental mercury at Amderma varies mainly within range from 1.5 to 2 ng/m3 which corresponds to the levels for North American sites and global background level for Northern Hemisphere;

After polar sunrise (end of March - Start of June) mercury depletion event occurs - Hg concentration becomes very variable (from 0 to 2 ng/m3);

Maximum Hg concentration (2-2.5 ng/m3) occurs at Summer time (June-July)

Perspectives for Research Program at Tiksi

Observatory

Perspectives for Research Program at Tiksi

Observatory


Scientific ObjectivesScientific Objectives To provide quantitative data describing the

levels of persistent toxic substances (PTS) in the Arctic atmosphere at Tiksi;

To assess the rate of deposition of these contaminants to Arctic environments;

To estimate source regions for detected contaminants


Sampling equipment Sampling equipment

In order results of analyses of PTS at Tiksi and other Arctic stations (Alerty, Barrow, Ny Alesund) are comparable, it is recommended that one type sampling equipment.

The sampling equipment should include a system of air sampling for POPs analysis on PUFs and fiber filters and mercury analyzer Tekran 2537A.

It is proposed that mounting and testing of equipment be performed by specialists of the SPA «Typhoon».


Air sampling at TiksiAir sampling at Tiksi Sampling and maintenance of samplers will be the responsibility

of local operators at Tiksi. Training of personnel should be organized by specialists of SPA

«Typhoon». The state of the station and operations should be controlled by

specialists of SPA «Typhoon» at least once a quarter. Air sampling for POPs and analysis is planned to be performed

continuously, with replacement of concentration filters once a week.

Analysis of mercury vapor in the air will be done on one-hour basis.

Exposed filters used for POPs analysis and computer data on mercury vapor content are to be delivered to the CEC SPA «Typhoon» for processing and analysis once a quarter.


Analysis for POPsAnalysis for POPs Samples to be collected at Tiksi station will be

analyzed in the CEC of SPA «Typhoon». Analysis for POPs will be performed by GC/MS

and capillary high-resolution gas chromatography.

All analytical methods will be similar to the US EPA techniques. QA/QC will be provided according to developed program.


THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!

Documents

CEC SPA "Typhoon"Tiksi Meeting, Boulder, 7 March 20071 Experience in monitoring of airborne POPs, mercury and other metals in Russian Arctic. Perspectives