Historical sediment record and levels of PCBs in sediments and mangroves of Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were quantified in 18 surface sediment samples, 1 sediment core, and several mangrove tissue samples collected in Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico in September 2013. Total PCBs in surface sediments ranged from 0.42 to 1232ngg-1dw. Generally, higher levels were observed near-shore close to urban and industrial areas. The levels suggest significant pollution in Jobos Bay with respect to PCBs. Two-thirds of the sites were dominated by lighter PCB congeners (tri- to penta-chlorinated PCBs) while one-third had heavy PCB congeners (hexa- to octa-chlorinated PCBs) dominant. Total PCBs in a sediment core indicated levels fluctuating according to historical usage patterns. Total PCBs were measured in mangal leaves (14-747ngg-1dw), roots (0.26-120ngg-1dw), and seeds (16-93ngg-1dw), suggesting bioaccumulation from sediments. This is the first report of a historical profile of PCBs in the study area and of PCB bioaccumulation in mangroves. This article provides new and useful information on PCBs in the Caribbean area of the GRULAC region.
University of South Florida St Petersburg, Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Geography, 140 7th Avenue South, St Petersburg, FL 33701, USA. Electronic address: halegria@usfsp.edu.
Henry
H
Alegria
Florida A&M University, School of the Environment, Frederick S. Humphries Science Research Center, RM306B, 1515 S. Martin L. King Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA.
Michael
M
Martinez-Colon
Bursa Technical University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Architecture and Engineering, Mimar Sinan Mah., Mimar Sinan Bulv., Eflak Cad. No:177, 16310 Yıldırım, Bursa, Turkey.
Askin
A
Birgul
Eckerd College, Department of Marine Sciences, 4200 54th Avenue South, St Petersburg, FL 33711, USA.
Gregg
G
Brooks
University of South Florida St Petersburg, Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Geography, 140 7th Avenue South, St Petersburg, FL 33701, USA.
Lindsey
L
Hanson
Bursa Technical University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Architecture and Engineering, Mimar Sinan Mah., Mimar Sinan Bulv., Eflak Cad. No:177, 16310 Yıldırım, Bursa, Turkey.
Perihan
P
Kurt-Karakus
D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D011647:Puerto Rico; D043982:Rhizophoraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Jobos Bay; Mangrove tissue; PCBs; Puerto Rico; Sediment core; Surface sediments