Spatial distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in coastal marine sediments receiving industrial and municipal effluents in Kuwait.
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations were measured in surficial sediments from coastal sediments receiving industrial and municipal effluents in Kuwait. The summation PBDE concentrations varied by two orders of magnitude ranging from 80 to 3800 pg g(-1)dw. The congener distribution was dominated by BDE 183, with minor contributions from BDEs 154 and 153. The similarity between the congener profile to that of the technical octa formulation (Bromkal 79-8DE) suggests a source of this product in Kuwait. The observed gradient in concentration distribution, with high summation PBDE concentrations near the shore and an exponential decrease seaward, indicates that wastewater discharge from industrial activities in the study area is the primary source of these compounds in the sediments.
Gevao
Bondi
B
Department of Environmental Science, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109 Safat, Kuwait. bgevao@safat.kisr.edu.kw
Beg
Mirza U
MU
Al-Ghadban
Abdul Nabi
AN
Al-Omair
Ali
A
Helaleh
Murad
M
Zafar
Jamal
J
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D007730:Kuwait; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D007220:Industrial Waste; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical