Long-range atmospheric transport of organochlorine pesticides from China to South Korea: Evidence from Deokjeok Island

The influence of transboundary air pollutants originating from the Asian continent on South Korea has been a major concern. Although organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been banned for several decades, they continue to be detected in the Korean environment. However, studies on the long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) of OCPs in South Korea, particularly in background areas, remain limited. This study investigated the atmospheric levels, sources, and behavior of OCPs at Deokjeok Island, a background site near the west coast of the Korean Peninsula. Total concentrations of 24 OCPs ranged from 53.6 to 325 pg/m3, which are lower than those reported by the national POPs monitoring network of South Korea and similar to levels found in other background regions in Northeast Asia. HCB (62.7 pg/m3, 45%) and PeCB (46.6 pg/m3, 33%) were the most dominant OCPs in the gaseous phase, whereas DDTs were predominant (1.65 pg/m3, 44%) in the particulate phase. Gaseous OCPs were strongly influenced by past use and re-emissions, while ongoing emissions and LRAT were the major sources of particulate OCPs. The consistent detection of mirex provides strong evidence of LRAT. In addition, correlation analysis and the Clausius-Clapeyron equation indicated that DDTs were significantly influenced by LRAT. Concentration-weighted trajectory maps identified East, North, and Northeast China as the major source regions for gaseous OCPs, driven by re-emissions, while the primary source areas for particulate OCPs were Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, and Shandong. Air/soil fugacity fractions showed equilibrium or net deposition for most OCPs (except PeCB), indicating the dynamic environmental behavior of OCPs influenced by past use and LRAT. This study provides evidence of LRAT of OCPs to South Korea, demonstrating the significant impact of transboundary pollution. These results highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring of both historically and currently used pesticides at receptor sites in Northeast Asia. [Display omitted] •OCP levels and their sources were assessed at a background site in South Korea.•Gaseous OCPs were significantly influenced by past use.•Particulate OCPs likely originated from recent emissions and LRAT.•Consistent detection and modeling results provide strong evidence of LRAT for OCPs.•Past use and LRAT play key roles in the dynamic environmental behavior of OCPs.