Source identification, spatio-temporal distribution and ecological risk of persistent organic pollutants in sediments from the upper Danube catchment.
Riverine sediments, collected on a monthly basis during a period of one year, from five sites in a mixed land use region of the Czech Republic were analysed for chlorinated and brominated persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The region is located in the upper catchment of the Danube River. The POPs concentrations were as follows: 11-930 pg g(-1) polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs), 170-980 pg g(-1) dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs), 34-13,700 pg g(-1) polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), 5.7-29,200 pg g(-1) polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and 0.21-351 ng g(-1) hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). Concentrations expressed as toxic equivalents (TEQs), for PCDD/F+dl-PCB+PCN (TEQPCDD/F+dl-PCB+PCN) ranged from 0.37 to 19 pg g(-1). The results revealed a clear spatial separation between sites based on concentration and congener profile. There were also some obvious temporal patterns of selected POPs, which were related to river flow (seasonality) and organic carbon (TOC) of the sediment. Potential sources of POPs include local municipalities (flame retardants), some diffuse sources (PCNs and PCDDs/Fs) and potential point sources (PBDEs). Risk assessment based on risk quotients (RQ) revealed limited to medium ecological risk from PBDEs. TEQPCDD/F+dl-PCB+PCN were low relative to other European rivers, hence the risk to aquatic organisms was considered to be low. PCNs contributed significantly to overall TEQ in several cases.
Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: kukucka@recetox.muni.cz.
Petr
P
Kukučka
Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Ondřej
O
Audy
Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Jiří
J
Kohoutek
Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Eva
E
Holt
Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Tereza
T
Kalábová
Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Ivan
I
Holoubek
Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Jana
J
Klánová
D018153:Czech Republic; D004463:Ecology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Ecological risk assessment; Persistent organic pollutants (POPs); Sediment; Source identification