title: Levels of persistent organic pollutants in the Neretva River (Bosnia and Herzegovina) determined by deployment of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD).
abstract: The main objective of this study was to determine levels of certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Neretva River, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which is currently facing implementation of the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and environmental protection strategies. This is the very first report on the deployment of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) in BiH. SPMDs were used for continuous 3-weeks sampling of POPs at three locations, covering 220 km long stream of the Neretva River. Water concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) were calculated using performance reference compounds (PRCs). The total OCP concentrations ranged from 40 to 140 pg L(-1) and most of compounds were detected only in lower course of the river. Total PAH ranged from 160 to 4000 pg L(-1) and show a clear spatial variation. Dominant PAHs were phenanthrene, fluoranthene, fluorene and acenaphthene. Total PCB ranged from undetectable to 120 pg L(-1). From the group of 15 PBDE congeners investigated, only PBDE-47 and PBDE-99 were detected. Since the concentrations of broad spectrum of POPs found in the Neretva River are quite low, future actions should be focused on preservation rather than on sanitation measures. Regular monitoring should anyhow be established.
authors.affiliation: University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Djedjibegovic
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marjanovic
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sober
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skrbo
authors.forename: Kemo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sinanovic
authors.forename: Thorjørn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Larssen
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grung
authors.forename: Eirik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fjeld
authors.forename: Sigurd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rognerud
mesh_terms: D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000032:analysis; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005449:Fluorenes; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010575:Pesticides; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C007738:fluoranthene; C041509:fluorene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls