Atmospheric levels and distribution of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the vicinity of an iron and steel making plant

Polyurethane foam disk passive air samplers (PAS) were deployed in a steel complex, and in residential and semi-rural areas of a city in Southern Korea between January and April 2006. Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were monitored to investigate the influence of the steel complex on the residential and semi-rural areas. The average levels of ∑12PCB (26.2; 6.1–61.8 pg m−3) and ∑9PBDE (25.2; 9.0–61.6 pg m−3) in the steel complex were higher than those of neighboring areas, indicating that the steel complex is a major source of both chemical groups. No significant difference in the congener patterns for the different areas suggests that the study area is commonly affected by the same sources. Elevated air concentrations at the eastern sites of the city and relatively low concentrations at the residential area close to the steel complex were observed. According to air dispersion modeling, the major wind direction plays a key role in determining this spatial distribution of PCBs and PBDEs. Consequently, the levels of these chemicals at the residential area might not be strongly influenced by the emissions from the steel complex. This study suggests that the combination of passive air sampling and air dispersion modeling is a useful tool for assessing source–receptor relationships of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on a local scale.