Levels of PCDDs and PCDFs in Korean river sediments and their detection by biomarkers.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are a group of toxic halogenated aryl hydrocarbons inducing various physiological disorders against biological organisms. Here, we investigated their levels in sediment samples taken from 12 different rivers in Korea. The levels of PCDD/PCDFs in sediment samples were expressed as concentrations and international TEQ values. Among 17 PCDD/PCDFs selected as target compounds in this study, the 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD and OCDD were found in all river sediments with significant variation in various congener profiles of PCDD/PCDFs in sediments. PCDD/PCDFs could be monitored by sensitive biomarkers using insect immune system. Out of 12 river sediment samples, the biomarkers reported four spots (up, middle, and down Singil sites and Ansan) as putative contamination areas. When comparing both chemical and biological monitoring results, two methods agreed three spots of Singil as contamination areas (above 10ppt levels) as well as six river sediment samples as relatively less-contaminated areas, but differed in the results in Ansan and Miho, probably due to relative non-specificity of biomarkers. Despite some disparity between bio- and chemical monitoring results, the biomarkers can be recommended as a device warning the contamination of dioxins in the environment because of a fast and inexpensive detection method.
Ryoo
Keon Sang
KS
Department of Applied Chemistry, Andong National University, Andong 760-749, Korea. ksr@andong.ac.kr
Ko
Seong-Oon
SO
Hong
Yong Pyo
YP
Choi
Jong-Ha
JH
Cho
Sunghwan
S
Kim
Yonggyun
Y
Bae
Yeon Jae
YJ
D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007313:Insecta; D007723:Korea; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D001572:Benzofurans; D015415:Biomarkers; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical