Characterisation of the dynamics of organic contaminants (n-alkanes, PAHs and PCBs) in a coastal area.
The dynamics of three classes of organic contaminants, namely n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls, were evaluated from the settled suspended particulate matter (SPM) of two wastewater treatment plant outlets (O1 and O2) at the Marseille coast. We used a 1-m-high Plexiglas settling column filled with 7L of seawater to determine the particles' settling rates, size distribution, and the extent of organic contaminants. Six classes of SPM (50-200μm particles size) were obtained from 15 fractions of 500-mL successive filtering samples ranging from 30s to 5days, including those in the tube wall. The results of the experiment indicated that >68% of the particles settled within 15min, which highly correlated with the distribution of organic carbon and contaminant contents. Furthermore, we demonstrated that 9%-13% of the SPM, which contained 5%-11% of the organic contaminants, are non-settable even after 5days. Extrapolating such behaviour in situ using molecular diagnostic indices for organic contaminant source apportionment indicated that these non-settable contaminant particles are exported to the sea.
Center for Maritime Biosciences Studies, Institute for Research and Community Service, Jenderal Soedirman University, Kampus Karangwangkal, Jl. dr. Suparno, Purwokerto 53123, Indonesia; Marine Science and Fisheries Faculty, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, Jl. Politeknik Senggarang-Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands Province 29100, Indonesia. Electronic address: agungsyakti@chemist.com.
Agung Dhamar
AD
Syakti
Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, 52 avenue Escadrille Normandie Niémen, 13013 Marseille, France; Université de Toulon, PROTEE, EA 3819, 83957 La Garde, France.
Benjamin
B
Oursel
Université de Toulon, PROTEE, EA 3819, 83957 La Garde, France.
Cedric
C
Garnier
Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LCE, Marseille, France.
Pierre
P
Doumenq
D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005602:France; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D000473:Alkanes; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Coastal zone; Organic contaminant; Urban rivers; Wastewater treatment plant