CONCENTRATIONS AND FLUXES OF ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE SWEDISH WEST-COAST

Measurements of organic compounds in air and deposition have been carr ied out in parallel on the Swedish west coast. In this investigation t he importance of long-range transport for the occurrence of organic co mpounds in deposition has been studied. Air samples were collected usi ng a high volume sampler (HVS) and the deposition was sampled on a 1 m (2) Teflon-coated horizontal surface with runoff for the precipitation to an adsorbent. The samples were analyzed in order to identify and q uantify different semivolatile compounds such as PAH and petrogenic hy drocarbons and chlorinated compounds such as PCB, HCH and HCB. Qualita tive differences between the content of organic compounds in air and d eposition during periods with varying levels of air pollution and diff erent meteorological conditions have been studied and a comparison wit h other air pollutants, such as soot, has been carried out. The result s of the measurements show that deposition of PAH and other hydrocarbo ns takes place continuously but the greatest amounts are measured in t he deposition in connection with episodes together with heavy precipit ation. The highest concentrations of PCB and HCH in the air were obtai ned during a warm dry period in May and the greatest amounts were depo sited in a period in May with heavy precipitation.