title: Organohalogenated contaminants in sediments and bivalves from the Northern Arabian Gulf.
abstract: Several classes of Organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs) were determined in sediments and bivalves collected from Kuwait coast. The levels and profile of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were compared in both sediments and bivalves. PCB-153 and -138 were the major contributors towards total OHCs followed by DDT and its metabolites (DDTs). The higher contribution of DDTs (~40%) and BDE-47 (~15%) in bivalves as compared to that in associated sediments indicated high biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF). Higher BSAF (values for heavier PCBs, DDTs and PBDEs) also indicated their high accumulation potential from sediment into associated biota at most of the studied locations. Overall, OHCs in sediments and bivalves measured in current study were lower than those reported in the literature worldwide. Most of the sediment concentrations of OHCs (ng/g, dry weight) were in the range of permissible guideline values proposed by Canadian Sediment Quality Guidelines (CSQGs), with few exceptions for DDTs (5 ng/g) and PCBs (22.7 ng/g). Similarly, 10% of bivalve samples contained high levels (ng/g, lipid weight) of PCBs (300) and DDTs (150) and were above the set safety benchmarks. This study establishes baseline for future monitoring programs.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Lulwa Naseer
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Environment Division, Department of BioSciences, COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: ali_ebl2@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Syed Ali Musstjab Akber Shah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Eqani
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Iqbal Mohammad Ibrahim
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Govindan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malarvannan
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Environment Division, Department of BioSciences, COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Water Resources Sciences and Management Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jalal Mohammed
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Al-Badry Basahi
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000032:analysis*; D019156:Indian Ocean; D007730:Kuwait; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D010575:Pesticides; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C014024:2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl
keywords: Bivalves; Kuwait; OHCs; Sediments