Spatial characteristics, sources, and ecological and human health risks of polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments from some river systems in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were quantified in sediments from the lower reaches of the Niger, Ase and Forcados Rivers in Nigeria with the aim of elucidating the sources, spatial characteristics and likely ecological and human health risks relating to exposure to PCBs in the sediments. A total o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2020-11, Vol.160, p.111605-111605, Article 111605
Main Authors: Irerhievwie, Gideon O., Iwegbue, Chukwujindu M.A., Lari, B., Tesi, Godswill O., Nwajei, Godwin E., Martincigh, Bice S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetone
Congeners
Dichloromethane
Dioxins
Gas chromatography
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Hexanes
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
n-Hexane
Niger Delta
Nigeria
PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Risk
Risk assessment
River systems
Rivers
Sediment
Sediments
Water analysis
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Summary:Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were quantified in sediments from the lower reaches of the Niger, Ase and Forcados Rivers in Nigeria with the aim of elucidating the sources, spatial characteristics and likely ecological and human health risks relating to exposure to PCBs in the sediments. A total of 28 PCB congeners, including 7 indicator PCBs and 12 dioxin-like PCBs, were identified and quantified after Soxhlet extraction with acetone/n-hexane/dichloromethane by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The Σ28 PCB concentrations in sediments from the Niger, Ase and Forcados Rivers ranged from 13.5 to 277 ng g−1, not detected to 1633 ng g−1 and 6.9 to 78.6 ng g−1 respectively. The PCB composition in sediments from these three rivers indicate the dominance of lower chlorinated (2-Cl to 5-Cl) congeners over higher chlorinated (6-Cl to 10-Cl) congeners. The ecological and human health risk assessment suggests potential risks for exposure of both organisms and humans to PCBs in sediments from these three river systems. •PCBs were measured in sediments from the lower reaches of the Niger, Ase and Forcados rivers•Sediments from the River Niger contained higher concentrations of PCBs than those of the Ase and Forcados Rivers•Lower chlorinated PCBs were dominant in the sediments•There are potential risks associated with both the exposure of organisms and humans to PCBs in these river sediments
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111605