Not so pristine: airborne benzothiazoles and organophosphate flame retardants in an alpine site under anthropogenic stress
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Anthropogenic pollutants like benzothiazoles (BTHs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) contaminate pristine mountain air. Their presence in PM10 at a high-altitude Alpine site indicates human impact, even in remote areas.
Area Of Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Atmospheric Science
- Ecotoxicology
Background
- Mountainous regions are not immune to anthropogenic pollution.
- Pollutants can be transported via local emissions and atmospheric circulation.
- Background levels of specific pollutants in high-altitude environments are understudied.
Purpose Of The Study
- To assess background concentrations of benzothiazoles (BTHs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in PM10.
- To investigate the sources and transport of these pollutants in the Eastern Italian Alps.
- To evaluate the potential of BTHs and OPFRs as tracers of human impact in mountain environments.
Main Methods
- Sampling of PM10 at a high-altitude site in the Eastern Italian Alps.
- Chemical analysis of benzothiazoles (BTHs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs).
- Multivariate statistical analysis to identify pollutant sources and atmospheric dynamics.
Main Results
- Chlorinated OPFRs (TCEP, TCPP) were dominant, with concentrations comparable to urban levels.
- BTH-SO3H was the most abundant BTH derivative, suggesting tyre wear as a source.
- Pollutant levels showed temporal variations linked to wind patterns and atmospheric mixing.
- Statistical analysis confirmed the anthropogenic origin of BTHs and OPFRs.
Conclusions
- High-altitude Alpine environments are impacted by anthropogenic pollutants.
- OPFRs and BTHs are present in mountain air, originating from human activities.
- These compounds can serve as valuable indicators of human influence in remote ecosystems.
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