Distribution and transfer pattern of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) among the selected environmental media of Ny-Ålesund, the Arctic: As a case study

Abstract Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) were analyzed in multi-environmental samples collected from Ny-Alesund, the Arctic to explore their legacy and transfer patterns. PCBs were ubiquitously in the environmental media, within the ranges of 1.73–6.27 and 9.18–141.1 pg m −3 in vapor and aerosol, 2.76–10.8, 3.09–8.32, 22.5–56.3, 35.4–51.4 and 31.8–39.6 ng g −1 (dry weight) in soil, sediment, plant, bird guano and reindeer faeces, respectively. The spatial distribution patterns exhibited a general southward decline in soil and sediment from the bay entrance to the inner bay. The concentration ratios of plants to soil inferred that no distinguished selective adsorption of PCBs congeners by plants existed and PCBs were mainly attributed to the air deposition on plant surface. The fugacity ratios among vapor, aerosol and soil indicted that the equilibrium status has not been reached and the net transferring direction was air–soil.