Modelling the fate of persistent organic pollutants in Europe: parameterisation of a gridded distribution model Konstantinos Prevedouros a , Matthew MacLeod b , Kevin C. Jones a , Andrew J. Sweetman a, * a Environmental Science Department, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK b Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road 90R3058, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA Received 14 July 2003; accepted 11 August 2003 ‘‘Capsule’’: A regionalised European box model is described, parameterised and tested for Lindane. Abstract A regionally segmented multimedia fate model for the European continent is described together with an illustrative steady-state case study examining the fate of g-HCH (lindane) based on 1998 emission data. The study builds on the regionally segmented BETR North America model structure and describes the regional segmentation and parameterisation for Europe. The European continent is described by a 5  5  grid, leading to 50 regions together with four perimetric boxes representing regions buffering the European environment. Each zone comprises seven compartments including; upper and lower atmosphere, soil, vegetation, fresh water and sediment and coastal water. Inter-regions flows of air and water are described, exploiting information originating from GIS databases and other georeferenced data. The model is primarily designed to describe the fate of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) within the European environment by examining chemical partitioning and degradation in each region, and inter-region transport either under steady-state conditions or fully dynamically. A test case scenario is presented which examines the fate of estimated spatially resolved atmospheric emissions of lindane throughout Europe within the lower atmosphere and surface soil compartments. In accordance with the predominant wind direction in Europe, the model predicts high concentrations close to the major sources as well as towards Central and Northeast regions. Elevated soil concentrations in Scandinavian soils provide further evidence of the potential of increased scavenging by forests and subsequent accumulation by organic-rich terres- trial surfaces. Initial model predictions have revealed a factor of 5–10 underestimation of lindane concentrations in the atmo- sphere. This is explained by an underestimation of source strength and/or an underestimation of European background levels. The model presented can further be used to predict deposition fluxes and chemical inventories, and it can also be adapted to provide characteristic travel distances and overall environmental persistence, which can be compared with other long-range transport prediction methods. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: POPs; European distribution model; Fugacity; Steady-state; g-HCH 1. Introduction The fate and behaviour of persistent organic pollu- tants (POPs) in the environment has attracted consider- able scientific and political interest, arising from concern over human exposure to these chemicals, and their discovery in areas far from source regions. The ability of certain POPs to undergo long-range atmo- spheric transport (LRAT) has resulted in the negotia- tion of protocols for their reduction or elimination, to reduce the risks to regional and global environments (http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap). The assessment of candidate POP chemicals for future addition to these protocols is based on an assessment of a number of cri- teria, for example, atmospheric half life, aquatic bio- concentration and presence of chemical in remote locations. These factors are inter-linked within a multi- media environment and the interactions between pro- cesses needs to be fully understood. For example, a chemical may have a high potential for aquatic food 0269-7491/$ - see front matter # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2003.08.041 Environmental Pollution 128 (2004) 251–261 www.elsevier.com/locate/envpol * Corresponding author. Tel.: +44-1524-593300; fax: +44-1524- 593985. E-mail address: a.sweetman@lancaster.ac.uk (A.J. Sweetman).