title: Can PBDE natural formation and degradation processes interfere with the identification of anthropogenic trends and sources? Evidences from sediments of the Nador Lagoon (Morocco).
abstract: This paper presents the first results related to PBDE concentrations in sediments of the Nador Lagoon (N-E Morocco), an area endangered by different pollutant sources. Analyses were performed by HRGC-LRMS and confirmed by HRGC-HRMS on selected samples. Total surficial concentrations were 0.059-8.2ngg(-1). The maxima were found close to Nador City. Along the sedimentary records, the highest total concentrations (11 and 2.2ngg(-1)) were found at depths corresponding to times (1930s-1950s) when these chemicals were not yet produced. Dehydroxylation or demethoxylation of naturally occurring structural analogues of PBDEs under reducing conditions was suggested. BDE-47 dominated the congener compositions, while BDE-209, when present, could be detected only by HRGC-HRMS, proving that analytical degradation modified the original assemblage. Microbial anaerobic degradation could have changed congener compositions in sediments deposited from the 1970s to the 2000s. Current values are not harmful, but increasing trends call for constant monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), Italy; CNR-Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), Italy.
authors.forename: Rossano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.affiliation: CNR-Institute of Marine Sciences, Via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca Giorgio
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bellucci
authors.affiliation: CNR-Institute of Marine Sciences, Via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: silvia.giuliani@bo.ismar.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.affiliation: CNR-Institute of Marine Sciences, Via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: CNR-Institute of Marine Sciences, Via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frignani
authors.affiliation: CNR-Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), Italy.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pizzini
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio Paolo
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vecchiato
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zambon
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Tangier, BP 416, Ancienne Route de l'Aéroport, Km 10, Ziaten, Tangier, Morocco; Polydisciplinary Faculty of Larache, BP 745, Route de Rabat, Larache, Tangier Region, Morocco.
authors.forename: Bouchta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: El Moumni
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D009018:Morocco; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Contamination; Degradation; Morocco; Nador Lagoon; Natural formation; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)