Relationships between persistent organic pollutants and carbonaceous materials in aquatic sediments of Taiwan.
Recent studies have shown that many persistent organic pollutants (POPs, e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and various pesticides), are strongly associated with carbonaceous materials (including organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC)). We hypothesize that carbonaceous materials can be used as a first-order pollution index, to indicate areas where POP pollution may require further investigation. We tested our hypothesis and found that strong, positive correlations between BC and OC contents versus the concentrations of PCBs (and PAHs) existed in estuarine sediments of the Danshui River in 2005 and 2008. Thus, our preliminary results demonstrate that POC and BC are potential indicators of the POP pollution potential in fluvial sediments of the Danshui River in Taiwan. This innovative approach can provide a simple, relatively inexpensive and expedient means to monitor concentrations of POPs in polluted aquatic sediments of Taiwan, and/or those having a legacy of POP inputs.
Hung
Chin-Chang
CC
Institute of Marine Environmental Chemistry and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan. cchung@ntou.edu.tw
Gong
Gwo-Ching
GC
Ko
Fung-Chi
FC
Chen
Hung-Yu
HY
Hsu
Min-Lan
ML
Wu
Jian-Ming
JM
Peng
Sen-Chueh
SC
Nan
Fan-Hua
FH
Yeager
Kevin M
KM
Santschi
Peter H
PH
D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010575:Pesticides; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls