A complex investigation of the extent of pollution in sediments of the Sava River: part 2: persistent organic pollutants

Abstract

Sediment pollution of the biggest Danube tributary, the Sava River, was investigated within the sixth framework European Union project "Sava River Basin: Sustainable Use, Management and Protection of Resources" (SARIB). The extent of pollution was estimated by determining the amount of inorganic and persistent organic pollutants in sediment samples at 20 selected sampling sites along the Sava River. For the purpose of clarity, the findings are presented and published separately (part I: selected elements and part II: persistent organic pollutants). This study presents an investigation into the presence of organic pollutants in the Sava River sediment. According to the Water Framework Directive, the following persistent organic pollutants were investigated: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), selected chlorinated pesticides and organotin compounds. The results reveal that PAHs were present in moderate concentrations (sum of 16 PAHs: up to 4,000 ng g(-1)) and their concentrations increased downstream. Concentrations of PCB were low (sum of seven indicator PCBs: below 4 ng g(-1)) and among the pesticides analyzed only p,p-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane was found in moderate concentrations at two sampling sites in Croatia (up to 3 ng g(-1)) and hexachlorobenzene was found in a high concentration in the city of Belgrade (91 ng g(-1)), although the use of these persistent pesticides has been banned for decades. Repeated sampling at the same location revealed point pollution near Belgrade. Among the organic pollutants surveyed, organotin compounds were not detected. Overall results reveal the presence of persistent organic pollutants in 20 of the Sava River sediments tested that is, in general, comparable or lower than the levels in the Danube River and other moderately polluted European rivers.

A complex investigation of the extent of pollution in sediments of the Sava River. Part 1: Selected elements

“…The extent of pollution of the Sava River sediments was investigated for the presence of inorganic pollutants presented herein and persistent organic pollutants (Heath et al 2009). Considering inorganic pollutants, data of the analysis of sediments sampled at 20 locations along the Sava River from its spring to its inflow into the Danube River indicate moderate elevation of mercury in sediments (up to 0.6 mg kg −1 Hg) and Cr and Ni (up to 400 and 210 mg kg −1 , respectively) in industrially impacted sites.…”

“…To assess the ecological status of the Sava River, one of the objectives of the SARIB project was a study on sediment pollution. Regarding these project goals, the aim of our work was a complex investigation of the extent of pollution of selected elements in sediments along the Sava River (Part 1, presented herein) and persistent organic pollutants (a complex investigation of the extent of pollution in sediments of the Sava River, "Part 2: Persistent organic pollutants, " Heath et al 2009). In the present study, total element concentrations and highly mobile element fractions (extraction in 0.11 mol L −1 acetic acid) were determined.…”

Organic Pollution of Water and Human Health

“…In the Sava River the following persistent organic pollutants were detected: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), selected chlorinated pesticides and organo-tin compounds [22].…”

Environmental impact on the antioxidant responses inCorbicula fluminea(Bivalvia: Veneroida: Corbiculidae) from the Danube River

“…There have been few chemical data available in the Serbian parts of the Danube and its biggest tributary the Sava up to now, especially information regarding metal, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels (Heath et al 2010;Milačič et al 2010;Vranković & Slavić 2015). Regarding the presence of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As) and phosphorous (P), the Sava River and the Danube River exhibit similar extents of pollution with these elements .…”