Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides in water columns from the Pearl River and the Macao harbor in the Pearl River Delta in South China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were measured in suspended particles and dissolved phase from the Baiertang water column and the Macao water column samples as collected from the Guangzhou channel of the Pearl River and the Macao harbor, where the sediments were heavily contaminated with organic pollutants. Total OCPs concentration varies from 23.4 to 61.7 ng/l in Baiertang water column and from 25.2 to 67.8 ng/l in Macao column, while total PAHs concentration varies from 987.1 to 2878.5 ng/l in the Baiertang water column and from 944.0 to 6654.6 ng/l in the Macao column. The vertical distribution profiles of pollutants and the partition of pollutants between particles and dissolved phases indicate that the sediments in Baiertang act as an important source of selected pollutants, and the pollutants in water of this region were mainly originated from the release and re-suspension of contaminants residing in the sediments. The sediments in Macao harbor act as a reservoir for organochlorine pesticides, such as DDTs mainly introduced by river inflow from Xijiang and PAHs input by brackish water from the Lingdingyang estuary. Combustion of fossil fuels and petroleum input are the main sources of PAHs in the Macao water column, while combustion of fossil fuels and coal is responsible for the PAHs in the Baiertang water column. The ratios of DDT/(DDD+DDE) for the Macao water column samples demonstrate that such chemicals were input into this region in recent times.     

Antioxidant responses to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in green-lipped mussels (Perna viridis): Do mussels “integrate” biomarker responses?

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs) are generally present in the marine environment in complex mixtures. The ecotoxicological nature of contaminant interactions, however, is poorly understood, with most scientific observations derived from single contaminant exposure experiments. The objective of this experiment was to examine dose-response relationships between antioxidant parameters and body contaminant levels in mussels exposed to different exposure regimes under laboratory conditions. Accordingly, the green-lipped mussel, Perna viridis, was challenged with a mixture of PAHs (anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene) and OC pesticides (α-HCH, aldrin, dieldrin, p,p′-DDT) over a 4 week period. Contaminants were delivered under four different dosing regimes, with all treatments receiving the same total contaminant load by the end of the exposure period. Antioxidant biomarkers were measured after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, including glutathione (GSH), gluathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and lipid peroxidase (LPO). GST and CAT were induced in hepatic tissues in most of the exposure regimes, with the majority of significant induction occurring in a constant exposure regime and a two-step alternate exposure regime. Significant differences among exposure regimes were detected in the body burden of contaminants after 28 days. Hepatic CAT and GSH are proposed as potentially useful biomarkers as they showed good correlation with target contaminants and were not readily affected by different dosing patterns.     

Fate and Behavior of Organochlorine Pesticides in the Indonesian Tropical Climate: A Study in the Segara Anakan Estuarine Ecosystem

The fate and behavior of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Segara Anakan Estuarine ecosystem was studied in the Indonesian tropical climate, which is characterized by heavy rainfall in the rainy season and low rainfall in the dry season. Since OCPs have high affinity for soil, a field study on the dissipation and degradation pattern of soil‐applied 1,1,1‐trichloro‐2,2‐bis (4‐chlorophenyl) ethane (p,p′‐DDT) and 1,1‐dichloro‐2,2‐bis (4‐chlorophenyl) ethylene (p,p′‐DDE) as model OCPs was carried out. They occurred at a faster rate in the biphasic mode in wet conditions and at a slower rate in dry conditions. In wet conditions, the conversion from p,p′‐DDT to p,p′‐DDE and p,p′‐DDD (1,1‐dichloro‐2,2‐bis (4‐chlorophenyl) ethane) was governed by a parallel reaction. In dry conditions, only p,p′‐DDE was formed. The fate and behavior of OCPs in sediment estuary are similar to those in soil under wet conditions, except that their sorption‐desorption constants are influenced by estuarine surface water salinity. In the dry season, due to high salinity, the sediment acts as an OCP sink and a secondary source for the ecosystem, causes higher OCP concentration of local bio‐monitors, i. e., Geloina spp. and Mugil spp. In the rainy season, high water inflow washed the desorbed OCP pesticides out of the estuarine ecosystem, and caused lower concentrations of bio‐monitors. A risk evaluation for the uptake of OCP pesticides during the dry season suggests that adult fish meal consumers are safe, but risk management is required for pregnant woman.     

Spatial and vertical distribution of organochlorine pesticides in sediments from Daya Bay, South China

The spatial and vertical distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) has been investigated in Daya Bay, China. The concentration of total OCPs in surface sediment range from 16.66 to 44.04ng/g dry weight with a mean concentration of 26.60ng/g. DDTs and HCHs were the predominant species. The ratios of (DDD+DDE)/DDT reflected a cocktail input pattern of fresh and weathered DDTs. The predominant alpha-HCH and the alpha/beta-HCH ratios indicated that the technical HCH contamination was mainly due to historical usage, although there was fresh input of lindane. The variation profiles of concentrations showed that OCPs were extensively applied between the late 1950s and early 1980s in China. A recent increasing trend in concentrations of DDTs and HCHs was found in both cores. The increasing ratios of (DDE+DDD)/DDT with corresponding decreases of DDE/DDT ratio implied that most of the DDTs deposited after their production ban were more likely "weathered" DDTs derived from soil residues.     

Environmental and pollution condition of the huizache-caimanero lagoon, in the north-west of Mexico

The fish and shrimp production of the Huizache-Caimanero Lagoon, located on the Mexican Pacific, has been decreasing in recent years, which may be due to environmental and pollution conditions. Therefore, water and sediment samples were analysed to quantify nutrients, pesticides, and coliform bacteria. The results indicated that the system is polluted considerably during the rainy season due to continental runoff carrying municipal and agricultural wastes, thereby increasing coliform pollution and nitrate concentrations. This is less apparent for phosphates and pesticides. We conclude that pollution and environmental changes are important causes decreasing production; recent studies have reported biochemical and physiological alteration in aquatic organisms exposed to similar levels of pesticides as reported here. During the rainy season, coliform levels are above permissible levels established by sanitary regulations, and are thus pose a risk to public health.     

Occurence and Transport of Organic Micro-contaminants in Sediments of the Odra River Estuarine System

Over ninety surface sediment samples (0...3 cm) were collected in the Odra river estuarine system – from the Oderhaff, the Pomeranian Bight, the Peenestrom, the Greifswald Bodden – and the Arkona Basin between 1994 and 1996 and analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) and biphenyls (PCB), and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) including their metabolites. The contents of all investigated organochlorines in the sediments of the western part of the Oderhaff (Kleines Haff) were only slightly higher and more homogenously distributed compared to the values of the Pomeranian Bight and the Greifswald Bodden. PCB contents (sum of 23 congeners) in surface sediments ranged between <130 and 9 550 pg/g (given for dry weight, dw). The results of individual PCB congeners showed that high contents of hexa- and heptachlorinated compounds (PCB 138, 153, 180) were present in the entire area investigated. Generally, low levels of PCDD/F were found in surface sediments of the Odra river estuarine system due to small industrial activities in the catchment area. Contents of PCDF (sum) and PCDD (sum) varied from 2.5 to 820 pg/g (dw) and from 13 to 2 991 pg/g (dw), respectively. The congener contents of PCDF showed a nonuniform picture between the Oderhaff and the Arkona Basin. In contrast, the congener profiles of PCDD showed approximately similar patterns at nearshore and offshore stations, with highest values of OCDD (octa CDD). We assume that most of the particulate-bound micro-contaminants (PCB, PCDD/F) are deposited in the eastern part of the Oderhaff (Stettin Lagoon), which acts as a temporary trap and opurificationπ basin for the suspended particulate matter (SPM). One pathway for further transport of the particles seems to be the way on a small sedimentation strip along the island of Usedom via the “Saßnitz-trough” into the deeper parts of the western Baltic Sea.     

Distribution and Fate of Organochlorine Pollutants in the Pearl River Estuary

Samples of surface sediment and suspended particulate matter (SPM) were collected from the Pearl River estuary, China, and the distribution and concentration of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDTs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were extensively studied. The concentration ranges of HCHs, DDTs and PCBs in the sediments were 0.28–1.23 ng g⁻¹, 1.36–8.99 ng g⁻¹ and 0.18–1.82 ng g⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of HCHs, DDTs and PCBs in the SPM varied both with the sampling locations and the season of collection. Higher concentrations were recorded in the SPM as compared with sediments. The distribution pattern of such organochlorine compounds (OCs), in the Pearl River estuary, showed that sources were some major river mouths and input from Shenzhen Bay. The concentrations of OCs were, however, low as compared with other estuaries and seas. The environmental fate of the OCs during estuarine mixing was determined, in part, by physicochemical and biochemical properties. The absorption and sedimentation of SPM were also considered important factors. Marine sediments may, therefore, be regarded as an important reservoir of hydrophobic and persistent OCs.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in harbor sediments from Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were determined in nearshore marine surficial sediments from three locations in Trinidad. Sediments were sampled at Sea Lots on the west coast, in south Port-of-Spain Harbor, south of Sea Lots at Caroni Lagoon National Park, and on Trinidad’s east coast at Manzanilla. Total PCB concentrations in Sea Lots sediments ranged from 62 to 601 ng/g (dry weight {dw}), which was higher than at Caroni and Manzanilla, 13 and 8 ng/g dw, respectively. Total OCP concentrations at Sea Lots were ranged from 44.5 to 145 ng/g dw, compared with 13.1 and 23.8 n/g (dw), for Caroni and Manzanilla respectively. The concentrations of PCBs and of some OCPs in sediments from Sea Lots were above the Canadian interim sediment quality guidelines. To date, this data is the first report on the levels of PCBs and other organochlorine compounds from Trinidad and Tobago.     

Baseline survey of sediments and marine organisms in Liaohe Estuary: Heavy metals,polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides

A geographically extensive investigation was carried out to analyze the concentrations of heavy metals, PCBs and OCPs in the sediments and marine organisms collected from the Liaohe Estuary. In order to determine the spatial distribution and potential ecological risk of heavy metals, the surface sediments were collected from 44 sites in the Liaohe Estuary. The results showed that the heavy metal contents in the sediments were observed in the following order: Cr (11.2–84.8 mg/kg) > Cu (1.7–47.9 mg/kg) > Pb (4.3–28.3 mg/kg) > As (1.61–12.77 mg/kg) > Cd (0.06–0.47 mg/kg) > Hg (0.005–0.113 mg/kg). In comparison with the concentrations of heavy metals and POPs in other regions, the concentrations of As, Pb and DDTs in the Liaohe Estuary were generally low, and other pollutant concentrations were inconsistent with those reported in other regions. The contamination factor (CF), the pollution load index (PLI), the geoaccumulation index and the potential ecological risk index were used to analyze the pollution situation, which showed that the heavy metal pollution in Liaohe Estuary is mainly dominated by Cd and Hg. The concentrations of the four heavy metals varied significantly in the three kinds of tested organisms (fish, mollusk and crustacean), indicating the different accumulative abilities of the species. The results obtained in this study provide useful information background information for further ecology investigation and management in this region.     

重庆老龙洞地下河流域水体有机氯农药污染及来源初步研究

为查明重庆老龙洞地下河流域有机氯农药的污染情况及其特征和来源,通过气相色谱-微池电子捕获检测器(GC-μECD)检测水体OCPs含量。结果表明研究区水样中受到了有机氯农药不同程度的污染。α-HCH是研究区水体HCHs主要成分,HCHs的残留主要来自于大气长距离传输。DDTs的主要成分各采样点不尽相同。DDTs的输入为历史上工业DDTs的使用且在水体中其主要以好氧转化为主。与国内外河流相比较,老龙洞地下河流域水体有机氯农药含量处于较高水平。