In this study, PUF disk passive air samplers were deployed at eight sites, during two sampling periods, on the Island of Sicily in the Mediterranean basin. Samples were screened for a number of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (n = 28 congeners), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) (n = 16 compounds), and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs n = 28) using GC-MS. PCB concentrations in air ranged similar to 10-300 pg m(-3). The PCB pattern was dominated by lower to middle molecular weight PCBs (Cl3-5) and PCB-28 and PCB-52 were the most abundant congeners. alpha- and gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) concentrations in air were relatively high similar to 420 +/- 320 (50-1000) and 460 +/- 340 (30-1000) pg m(-3), respectively, with an average alpha/gamma ratio of 1 +/- 0.5, indicating a tendency of higher use of lindane than of technical HCH. Among DDTs, only p,p'-DDT 90 +/- 15 (similar to 10-800) and p,p'-DDE 60 +/- 60 (20-400) were frequently detected. DDT/DDE = 0.4-3.0 (1.0 +/- 0.7 for both periods) suggesting past and fresh inputs of DDT at the sampling sites. alpha-Endosulfan, recently included in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention, fluctuated between 120 +/- 50 (50-1000) pg m(-3). In contrast, PBDE levels were very low (0.2-2 pg m(-3)). Back trajectories of advection suggest that POP levels are mainly related to local sources (primary or secondary) from Sicily (50-70 % contribution of air masses), Southern Italy, and Sardinia (20 %). This study provides new information for POP levels in the atmosphere of the Mediterranean region.