The Fate of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the North Sea: Multiple Year Model Simulations of g-HCH, a-HCH and PCB 153

ISBN-13: 9783540681625 / Angielski / Miękka / 2007 / 132 str.

Tatjana P. Ilyina

Opis

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are harmful to human health and to the environment. Their fate in the marine environment is not yet fully understood. An ocean model (FANTOM) has been developed to investigate the fate of selected POPs in the North Sea. The main focus of the model is on quantifying the distribution of POPs and their aquatic pathways. This is the first time that a spatially-resolved, measurement-based ocean transport model has been used to study POP-like substances, at least on the regional scale. The model was applied for the southern North Sea and tested by studying the behaviour of g-HCH, a-HCH and PCB 153 in sea water. This model study proves that transport models, such as FANTOM, are capable of reproducing realistic multi-year temporal and spatial trends of selected POPs and can be used to address further scientific questions.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"The findings represent the best scientific basis presently available for assessing and controlling the spreading and fate of organic pollutants in the North Sea. Such an approach provides a valuable aid for national and European marine environmental policymakers. Moreover, this approach can be applied to endangered shelf seas in other parts of the world." (International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 87 (7), 2007)

Spis treści

and Background.- The Fate and Transport Ocean Model (FANTOM): Model Description.- FANTOM: Model Setup.- FANTOM: Model Evaluation.- Occurrence and Pathways of Selected POPs in the North Sea.- Contribution of Individual Processes to the Cycling of Selected POPs in the North Sea.- Conclusions and Outlook.