title: Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in the aquatic environment of the Mekong River, South of Vietnam.
abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) were analyzed in sediments and clams' soft tissues from sampling sites in the Mekong River delta from the border with Cambodia to the coast of South China Sea. Concentrations of 13 individual PCB congeners are reported. Median concentration of SigmaPCB congeners was 0.279 ng g(-1) dry weight (range 0.106-2.016 ng g(-1) dry weight) in sediments, and 5.20 ng g(-1) dry weight (range 1.89-19.37 ng g(-1)) in clams. Distribution and bioaccumulation of PCBs in the delta are discussed. It is concluded that in the Mekong River delta PCB concentrations were generally lower than in other regions of Vietnam and their likely sources have been waste discharges from repair workshops and other facilities in the delta cities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, Nuclear and Technological Institute, E.N. 10, 2685-953, Sacavém, Portugal. carvalho@itn.pt
authors.forename: Fernando P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cattini
authors.forename: Dao Dinh
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Thuan
authors.forename: Dang Duc
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Nhan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014744:Vietnam; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls