title: Organic pollutants in the central and coastal Beibu Gulf, South China Sea.
abstract: Surface sediments from the central and coastal Beibu Gulf, southern China, were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants. The absence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB; generally below detection limit), low concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH; 24-647 ng g(-1)), and locally high contamination with organo-chloro pesticides (DDT; 0.03-92 ng g(-1)) reflect the early stages of development in southwest China, with human activities dominated by agriculture and low impact of industry. Concentrations of PCB and PAH indicate no ecological risk, while DDT accumulation poses a probable toxic risk in coastal but not in shelf sediments. Diagnostic ratios suggest PAH originating mainly from combustion of biomass and diesel fuels, and recent DDT use in agriculture and antifouling paint. Distribution patterns along the coastal-shelf-gradient indicate mainly airborne transport of PAH and waterborne transport of DDT. In the central Gulf, also water column samples reveal low concentrations of PAH (1.7-7.8 ng L(-1)) and DDT (0.006-0.053 ng L(-1)).
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, D-28359 Bremen, Fahrenheitstr. 6-8, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, D-18119 Rostock, Seestrasse 15, Germany. Electronic address: david.kaiser@io-warnemuende.de.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, D-18119 Rostock, Seestrasse 15, Germany. Electronic address: ines.hand@io-warnemuende.de.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, D-28359 Bremen, Fahrenheitstr. 6-8, Germany. Electronic address: daniela.unger@desy.de.
authors.lastname: DanielaUnger
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, D-18119 Rostock, Seestrasse 15, Germany. Electronic address: detlef.schulz-bull@io-warnemuende.de.
authors.forename: Detlef E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Schulz-Bull
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, D-18119 Rostock, Seestrasse 15, Germany. Electronic address: joanna.waniek@io-warnemuende.de.
authors.forename: Joanna J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Waniek
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Aquaculture; Beibu Gulf; Estuary; Mangrove; Source attribution; Toxicity