Assessment of temporal variation and sources of PCBs in the sediments of Mediterranean Sea, Mersin Bay, Turkey

Information on temporal distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the coastal sediments of Mediterranean Sea, Mersin was compiled using data published between 1980 and 2009, and the present study. The first congener specific PCB results from the region yield concentration levels of Σ₄₁PCBs in sediments ranging from 0.61 to 1.04 ng g⁻¹. Sediment profiles show penta-, hexa- and hepta-chlorobiphenyls, specifically, #149 and 153 as the most abundant congeners in all samples. Comparison of total PCB concentrations over time suggests no recent PCB input to the region. Using congener specific PCB data for the region, identity and contribution of PCB sources were also predicted using a chemical mass balance -based (CMB) receptor model. The CMB model identified Aroclor 1260 to be the major PCB source in coastal sediments. The potential sources for the PCBs were briefly discussed in terms of their use in various industrial applications.     

The factors controlling the partitioning of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in the water-column of the Pearl River Estuary in South China

In this study, the distribution and partition of polybrominateddiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water from the Pearl River Estuary were investigated. A seasonal dependence for dissolved and particle phase PCB and PBDE levels was observed. A high dissolved phase level occurred in the dry season. The positive correlation between POC content in the particles and phase distribution coefficients (K_p) suggested that POC may play an important role in determining the partition of PBDEs and PCBs. A linear correlation between the observed log K_OC and log K_OW for PBDEs and PCBs was found with slopes less than one. The observed log K_OC values were lower than the predicted log K_OC values for PBDEs (except for BDE28). The log K_OC values were higher than the predicted values for PCBs. A combination of sorption to colloids (10-98% for PBDEs and less than 25% for PCBs) and adsorption to BC was responsible for this observation.     

海洋沉积物中多氯联苯、多环芳烃和有机氯农药的同时净化与分离

研究了海洋沉积物提取液中28种多氯联苯(PCBs)、16种多环芳烃(PAHs)和21种有机氯农药(OCPs)在硅胶-氧化铝复合净化柱上的同时净化与分离效果,结果表明:在充填4 cm3%去活化氧化铝-6 cm 3%去活化硅胶的8 mm i.d×15 cm固相萃取净化柱上,使用10 mL正己烷作为淋洗PCBs的分割点,可实现PCBs、PAHs和OCPs的满意分离,更有利于PCBs与高环数PAHs、极性较强OCPs的分离。继续用20 mL正己烷-二氯甲烷混合液(体积比1∶1)洗脱,28 PCBs、16种PAHs和21种OCPs均可获得有效回收,回收率分别为75%~110%、76%~115%、75%~130%。经海洋沉积物标准参考物质验证,该方法实用、可靠,流程简单,试剂消耗少,成本低,适用于海洋环境地质调查中基质复杂沉积物样品的定量分析。     

东湖水体中多氯联苯的研究

于1994年6月,采用高分子多孔聚合树脂对武汉东湖水进行富集采样,样品经净化后利用毛细管柱色谱进行多氯联苯（PCBs）总量及同类物（congeners）的分离测定。结果表明,东湖水样中PCBs总含量为2．7ng／L,检出的20多个PCBs同类物其含量分别在0．002－1．12ng／L范围内。其同类物中低氯取代的PCBs相对含量明显高于工业用商品PCBs中的相应含量。     

Diffuse pollution by persistent organic pollutants as measured in plastic pellets sampled from various beaches in Greece

Plastic pellets found stranded on beaches are hydrophobic organic materials and thus, they are a favourable medium for persistent organic pollutants to absorb to. In the present study, plastic pellets are used to determine the diffuse pollution of selected Greek beaches. Samples of pellets were taken from these beaches and were analyzed for PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, and PAHs. The observed differences among pellets from various sampling sites are related to the pollution occurring at each site. Plastic pellets collected in Saronikos Gulf beaches demonstrate much higher pollutant loading than the ones collected in a remote island or close to an agricultural area. Based on data collected in this study and the International Pellet Watch program, pollution in Saronikos Gulf, Greece, is comparable to other heavily industrialized places of the world. The present study demonstrates the potential of pellet watch to be utilized as a detailed-scale monitoring tool within a single country.     

加速溶剂萃取-气相色谱法测定谷物中有机氯农药和多氯联苯

针对大米、小麦、玉米和黄豆等谷物样品中有机氯农药(OCPs)和多氯联苯(PCBs)检测的前处理过程较为复杂,消耗溶剂多,易导致部分挥发性化合物损失而影响分析的准确度,本文优化了加速溶剂萃取(ASE)提取大米、小麦、玉米和黄豆等谷物样品中OCPs和PCBs的条件,比较了凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)和固相萃取柱(SPE)两种净化方式净化样品的效果,采用气相色谱-电子捕获检测器实现了样品中17种OCPs和8种PCBs单体的系统分析.结果表明,选择二氯甲烷-丙酮混合溶剂(体积比1∶1),采用ASE萃取,同时加入弗罗里硅土在线净化,可满足样品提取需求;除了黄豆和黑豆等豆制品样品需采用GPC结合SPE的净化方法外,大米、小麦、玉米等大部分谷物样品采用SPE净化即可满足测定需求.采用弗罗里硅土SPE净化,仅用9 mL正己烷-乙酸乙酯淋洗液(体积比1∶1)即可将所有目标物回收,克服了有机试剂用量大、同时使用多种试剂及试剂毒性大的问题.添加低、高两个浓度水平0.69 μg/kg和5.52μg/kg,OCPs和PCBs单体的平均回收率为71.0％ ～ 112.0％,相对标准偏差为3.6％～16.7％(n=7);方法检出限为0.07 ～0.30μg/kg,低于国家标准方法的检出限.该方法净化效率高,操作简单,分析成本较低,适用于大批量谷物样品中多种OCPs和PCBs的快速分析.     

Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in the study of organochlorine contaminants in albatrosses and petrels

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in albatrosses and petrels collected off southern Brazil were compared with concentrations of organochlorine contaminants (OCs). δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values, as well as OCs concentrations, exhibited a high degree of variability among individuals and overlap among species. δ¹³C values reflected latitudinal differences among species, with lower values found in Wandering and Tristan Albatrosses and higher values found in Black-browed and Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and White-chinned Petrels. Some relationships were found between OCs and stable isotopes, but in general a partial ‘uncoupling’ was observed between OCs concentrations and stable isotopes ratios (especially for δ¹⁵N). δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values in Procellariiformes tissues during the non-breeding season appear to be a better indicator of foraging habitats than of trophic relationships, which may partially explain the high degree of variability between concentrations of OCs and stable isotopes ratios in birds with a diversified diet and wide foraging range.     

Historical records of organic pollutants in sediment cores

Analyses of sediment core samples are primary sources of historical pollution trends in aquatic systems. Determining organic compounds, such as POPs, in the dated sediments enables the estimation of their temporal concentration changes and the identification of the contaminant origin in local regions. Wars, large-scale fires, economical transitions, and bans on certain chemicals are reflected in the sediment organic compound concentrations. The high POP concentrations in surficial sediments suggest that these chemicals, even after being banned, remain in the environment. Furthermore, vertical profiles can help in understanding the sedimentation process and in estimating effective countermeasures against pollution. Moreover, studies published during the period 1991–2013 on PAHs, PCBs, OCPs, dioxins and dioxin-like compound concentrations in sediment core samples are reviewed.     

Modelling exposure of oceanic higher trophic-level consumers to polychlorinated biphenyls: Pollution ‘hotspots’ in relation to mass mortality events of marine mammals

Marine mammals in the past mass mortality events may have been susceptible to infection because their immune systems were suppressed through the bioaccumulation of environmental pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We compiled mortality event data sets of 33 marine mammal species, and employed a Finely-Advanced Transboundary Environmental model (FATE) to model the exposure of the global fish community to PCB congeners, in order to define critical exposure levels (CELs) of PCBs above which mass mortality events are likely to occur. Our modelling approach enabled us to describe the mass mortality events in the context of exposure of higher-trophic consumers to PCBs and to identify marine pollution ‘hotspots’ such as the Mediterranean Sea and north-western European coasts. We demonstrated that the CELs can be applied to quantify a chemical pollution Planetary Boundary, under which a safe operating space for marine mammals and humanity can exist.