Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-349
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-349
03 Feb 2025
 | 03 Feb 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).

Current-use and organochlorine pesticides' multi-annual trends in air in Central Europe: primary and unidentified secondary sources

Ludovic Mayer, Lisa Melymuk, Adela Holubová Šmejkalová, Jiři Kalina, Petr Kukučka, Jakub Martiník, Petra Přibylová, Petr Šenk, Pourya Shahpoury, and Gerhard Lammel

Abstract. This study investigated 48 current-use pesticides (CUPs) and 30 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in ambient air at a rural-agricultural site in the Czech Republic, with biweekly sampling over three and 10 years, respectively. Despite being banned decades ago, OCPs persist in the atmosphere, with revolatilisation from soils apparent in summer. Temporal trend analysis revealed decreasing atmospheric concentrations for several OCPs, which indicate diminishing reservoirs in environmental compartments especially soil over the years. For β- and γ-HCH, o,p’- and p,p’-DDE, o,p’-DDD, o,p’- and p,p’-DDT, α-chlordane, and mirex levelling off is observed, which points to recently enhanced secondary sources in the region or beyond i.e., reversal of the direction of air-surface exchange or recent mobilisation from soils, water bodies, or the cryosphere. CUP concentrations peaked during application seasons, with multi-annual trends either insignificant or declining. For compounds like chlorpyrifos and fenpropimorph, declining trends aligned with regulatory bans, though their presence in the atmosphere was evident one-year post-ban, suggesting persistence.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
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Ludovic Mayer, Lisa Melymuk, Adela Holubová Šmejkalová, Jiři Kalina, Petr Kukučka, Jakub Martiník, Petra Přibylová, Petr Šenk, Pourya Shahpoury, and Gerhard Lammel

Status: open (until 17 Mar 2025)

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Ludovic Mayer, Lisa Melymuk, Adela Holubová Šmejkalová, Jiři Kalina, Petr Kukučka, Jakub Martiník, Petra Přibylová, Petr Šenk, Pourya Shahpoury, and Gerhard Lammel
Ludovic Mayer, Lisa Melymuk, Adela Holubová Šmejkalová, Jiři Kalina, Petr Kukučka, Jakub Martiník, Petra Přibylová, Petr Šenk, Pourya Shahpoury, and Gerhard Lammel

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Short summary
This study explored pesticides in the air at a rural site in the Czech Republic. Older pesticides, banned decades ago, are still found due to their release from soils, especially in summer. While levels of many have declined over time, some show new emissions from local or distant sources. Newer pesticides peaked during application seasons but declined after bans, though traces lingered. These findings highlight the lasting impacts of pesticide use and the importance of regulations.
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