Trans-Pacific and Regional Atmospheric Transport of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Pesticides in Biomass Burning Emissions to Western North America

The trans-Pacific and regional North American atmospheric transport of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pesticides in biomass burning emissions was measured in air masses from April to September 2003 at two remote sites in western North America. Mary‘s Peak Observatory (MPO) is located in Oregon’s Coast Range and Cheeka Peak Observatory (CPO) is located on the tip of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. During this time period, both remote sites were influenced by PAH and pesticide emissions from forest fires in Siberia and regional fires in Oregon and Washington State. Concurrent samples were taken at both sites on June 2 and August 4, 2003. On these dates, CPO had elevated gas phase PAH, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, and retene concentrations (p < 0.05) and MPO had elevated retene, particulate phase PAH, and levoglucosan concentrations due to trans-Pacific transport of emissions from fires in Siberia. In addition, during the April to September 2003 sampling period, CPO and MPO were influ...