Comparison of atmospheric pesticide concentrations measured at three sampling sites: local, regional and long-range transport

We present the comparison of atmospheric concentrations of eleven currently used pesticides (HCB, alpha -HCH, gamma -HCH, trifluraline, mecoprop, phosalone, atrazine, carbofuran, carbaryl, diuron and isoproturon) measured in remote (Aubure), rural (Colmar) and urban (Strasbourg) areas of Alsace and Vosges regions (east France). Pesticides samples were collected simultaneously on two of the three sites during the summer season of 1993 and 1994, using a Hi-Vol sampler with Whatman filter paper and XAD-2 resin. The particle and gas phases were collected separately during 24 h. The relative importance of local emissions and local, regional and long distance transport on the contamination of the atmosphere in the three environments (remote, rural and urban) were investigated. To facilitate the interpretation of the results, the alpha/gamma -HCH ratio was used as a tracer of pesticide emissions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.