Contamination status of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in sandstorm depositions from Beijing and the origination region.

In China, sandstorms play an important role in the long-range atmospheric transport and deposition of hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Concentrations of HCB in sandstorm depositions sampled from Beijing and the origination region were measured to reveal HCB levels during atmospheric transport. The results suggested a constant level of HCB during atmospheric transport. The values were close to environmental background values indicating that no potential source of HCB existed along the transport route. A tendency for HCB levels in Beijing to increase from north to east was also observed, which was probably due to the influence of wind speed and industrial zone distribution.