title: Novel approach for assessing heavy metal pollution and ecotoxicological status of rivers by means of passive sampling methods.
abstract: In order to study the pollution of fluvial ecosystems, it is necessary to analyze not only the levels of chemical contaminants in water, but also those accumulated in the sediment matrix, as well as to assess its ecotoxicological status. Eleven Catalan (Spain) river sections (one sampling point per river) located near urban and industrial areas were sampled during winter of 2009. Water pollutants were collected by using passive samplers as Diffusive Gradient in Thin-Films (DGTs) and Semi-Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs). Point water samples were also collected. The concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in water, filtered water, DGTs and sediment samples were analyzed. Aqueous and organic solvent extracts of sediments samples and organic extracts of SPMDs were performed to assess acute toxicity to Vibrio fischeri by Microtox(®), and chronic toxicity to the green alga Pseudokirschneriella subcapitata. Microtox(®) test was also performed with DGT extracts. The results show that metals content of Catalan river waters are below the freshwater screening US EPA benchmarks, excepting some industrial areas (for Hg, Pb, and Zn). In contrast, sediments levels of some rivers were far above freshwater sediment screening US EPA benchmarks (for Zn, As, Cr, Pb, Ni, Hg, and Mn), particularly in the most industrialized areas. A good correlation was found between toxicity values of extracts (from sediments and DGTs) and PTE levels in sediments. The current results support the suitability of using combined point and passive sampling methods for assessing the chemical and ecotoxicological status of aqueous environments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roig
authors.forename: Martí
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadal
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ginebreda
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuhmacher
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Domingo
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects; D017753:Ecosystem; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical