%0 journal article
%@ 0003-2670
%A Xie, Z., Selzer, J., Ebinghaus, R., Caba, A., Ruck, W.

%D 2006
%J Analytica Chimica Acta
%N 2
%P 198-207 
%R doi:10.1016/j.aca.2006.02.027
%T Development and validation of a method for the determination of trace alkylphenols and phthalates in the atmosphere
%U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2006.02.027
2 
%X An analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous extraction and determination of trace tertiary octylphenol (t-OP), technical nonylphenol isomers (NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate isomers (NP1EO) and seven phthalates in the atmosphere using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). High volume samples were collected using a high-volume pump equipped with a PUF/XAD-2 column for air and glass fiber filter for particles. The detection limits of the method for alkylphenols (APs) and the phthalates ranged from 0.0006 to 0.034 ng m−3 in air. The recoveries of t-OP, NP, NP1EO and the phthalates for the entire procedure were satisfactory (>69%). The method was successfully applied to the determination of the analytes in the atmosphere samples collected over land and the ocean. The concentrations of t-OP, NP, NP1EO showed decline trends from land to the open sea, and the phthalates present over land and the North Sea were comparable. It is suggested that the atmosphere is a significant pathway for the transport of alkylphenols and the phthalates in the environment.