Temporal variations of perfluoroalkyl substances and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in alpine snow
Torben Kirchgeorg1, Annekatrin Dreyer, Jacopo Gabrieli
1Department for Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany. kirchgeorg@unive.it
Abstract:
The occurrence and temporal variation of 18 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the European Alps was investigated in a 10 m shallow firn core from Colle Gnifetti in the Monte Rosa Massif (4455 m above sea level). The firn core encompasses the years 1997-2007. Firn core sections were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (PFASs) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PBDEs). We detected 12 PFASs and 8 PBDEs in the firn samples. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA; 0.3-1.8 ng L(-1)) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; 0.2-0.6 ng L(-1)) were the major PFASs while BDE 99 (
