Airborne PCB Concentrations in Portland, Oregon: Emissions and Contributions from the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.

ABSTRACT: We investigated airborne concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) near the Portland Harbor Superfund Site (PHSS), a historical and culturally significant location. In collaboration with residents, we measured airborne PCBs using polyurethane foam passive air samplers (PUF-PAS) deployed for 6 weeks. Additionally, we estimated PCB emissions based on the flux calculations from Portland Harbor (PH) water using PCB concentrations reported by the U.S. EPA to predict airborne PCB concentrations with an atmospheric dispersion model (AERMOD). Measured airborne total PCB concentrations ranged from 70 to 910 pg m^-3 with a geometric mean of 330 pg m^-3, which is lower than concentrations observed in other known PCB-contaminated areas in the U.S. Air congener distribution

SUBMITTER: Slade AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12706737 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature