Determination of atmospheric perfluorocarbon background concentrations of fl/L range at the western coastal area of Korea

Abstract

As part of perfluorocarbon (PFC) tracer release experiment conducted at the western coastal area of Korea in February 2001, the background concentration level of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) in the atmosphere was determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. Prior to the PFC tracer release experiment in the field, air samples were collected using active samplers and the background concentrations of PFCs were determined. The concentrations of perfluoromethylcyclohexane (C7F14, PMCH) in the western coastal area of Korea were in the range of 5.8-8.7 fL/L. The mean concentration of the PMCH in the region exhibited no significant spatial and temporal variations. This concentration level is somewhat higher and has larger standard deviation than those of studies previously conducted in USA and Europe on the background concentration levels of PFCs. Because the background concentration of PMCH in Korea is still very low and consistent temporally and spatially, the PMCH tracer can be used suitably for the studies of long-range atmospheric transport.