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Organic pollutants in the street dust of a European Metropolitan area
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A study of 59 organic pollutants across 19 districts of metropolitan Barcelona found 41 compounds in street dust including PAHs, phthalates, bisphenol A, and flame retardants, with spatial patterns driven more by pollutant persistence and redistribution than emission intensity. Phthalates and BPA detected in street dust represent plastic additive pollution that can be resuspended and inhaled or ingested, linking urban plastic use to environmental contamination hotspots.
Street dust is a major sink for organic pollutants, yet their spatial distribution in cities remains poorly understood. This study quantified 59 organic pollutants in street dust from 19 districts across metropolitan Barcelona, Spain. We detected 41 compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), nicotine, and chlorpyrifos (CPS). Samples were collected via a standardized protocol and analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). We applied generalized linear models (GLMs) and used Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) to test hypotheses on anthropogenic, environmental, and management-related influences on contamination patterns. PAH concentrations were higher in areas exposed to regional winds from the airport and harbour. Local winds correlated with lower levels of phthalates, BPA, and CPS. BPA increased with population density but dropped in sun-exposed plots. PAH and OPFR levels were lower in areas cleaned with water. Nicotine was higher in plots exposed to water runoff. Results suggest pollutant persistence and redistribution, rather than emission intensity, largely shape spatial patterns. These findings highlight the need to incorporate environmental and urban-management variables into pollution assessments and offer a methodological framework applicable to other European cities facing similar environmental challenges.
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