Human activities have released large quantities of neutral persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that may be biomagnified in food webs and pose health risks to wildlife, particularly top predators. Here we develop a global 3‐D ocean simulation for four polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) spanning a range of molecular weights and volatilities to better understand effects of climate‐driven changes in ocean biogeochemistry on the lifetime and distribution of POPs. Observations are most abundant in the Arctic Ocean. There, model results reproduce spatial patterns and magnitudes of measured PCB concentrations. Sorption of PCBs to suspended particles and subsequent burial in benthic marine sediment is the dominant oceanic loss process globally. Results suggest benthic sediment burial has removed 75% of cumulative PCB releases since the onset of production in 1930. Wind speed, light penetration, and ocean circulation exert a stronger and more variable influence on volatile PCB congeners with lower particle affinity such as chlorinated biphenyl‐28 and chlorinated biphenyl‐101. In the Arctic Ocean between 1992 and 2015, modeled evasion (losses) of the more volatile PCB congeners from the surface ocean increased due to declines in sea ice and changes in ocean circulation. By contrast, net deposition increased slightly for higher molecular weight congeners with stronger partitioning to particles. Our results suggest future climate changes will have the greatest impacts on the chemical lifetimes and distributions of volatile POPs with lower molecular weights.
- Award ID(s):
- 1840842
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10096529
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Acta Neuropathologica
- ISSN:
- 0001-6322
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Practitioner points Pollution from the increasing use of roadway deicers may have detrimental effects on the environment.
Of particular concern are the acute and cumulative risks that chloride salts pose to aquatic species.
Chloride salts are water‐soluble, very difficult to remove, highly mobile, and non‐degradable.
Deicers cause water stratification, change the chemicophysical properties of water, and affect aquatic species and human health.
Current guidelines may not be appropriate for environmental protection and need to be revised.
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