Occurrence of polybrominated diphenylethers, polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls in coastal sediments from Spain

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2005-08, Vol.136 (3), p.493-501
• Main Authors: Eljarrat, Ethel, De La Cal, Agustina, Larrazabal, David, Fabrellas, Begoña, Fernandez-Alba, Amadeo Rodriguez, Borrull, Francesc, Marce, Rosa Maria, Barcelo, Damia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Benzofurans - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; chemical concentration; Chromatography, Gas - methods; coastal water; Dioxins; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh Water; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Furans; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; harbors; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; marine sediments; PBDEs; PCBs; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Polybrominated Biphenyls - analysis; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analogs & derivatives; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analysis; rivers; Sediment; sediment contamination; Soil and sediments pollution; Spain; toxicity; WHO-TEQ
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.12.005

Fifteen sediment samples were analysed in order to determine their content of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs). Samples were collected from several hot spots on the Spanish coast, such as the harbours of Almeria and Tarragona, and the mouths of the Besós and Llobregat rivers in Barcelona. A generic analytical procedure based on Soxhlet extraction followed by an automated cleanup system and gas chromatography-ion trap-mass spectrometry was employed for determining the toxic congeners of PCDDs and PCDFs, as well as dioxin-like PCBs. As regards PBDE determinations, a rapid method based on the use of selective pressurized liquid extraction followed by gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry was applied. Total toxicity equivalent (WHO-TEQ) values were calculated using the toxicity equivalent factors proposed by WHO for dioxin-like PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs. WHO-TEQ values ranged from 0.3 to 75 pg/g dry weight (dw), with PCB contribution on the toxicity of the samples between 1 and 84%. Total PBDE levels ranged from 2.7 to 134 ng/g dw, with BDE-209 contribution on the total PBDE contamination between 50 and 99%. Decabrominated diphenyl ether makes a substantial contribution to the total PBDE contamination found in Spanish coastal sediments.