Distribution and possible sources of organochlorine residues in sediments of a large urban estuary, Port Jackson, Sydney

Birch, G.F.; Taylor, S. E.

doi:10.1046/j.1440-0952.2000.00806.x

Cited by 62 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…1; Birch and Taylor 2000). The catchment is highly urbanised (63%) and industrialised (4%) with moderate parkland/open space (23%) and minor commercial (5%) and special use (hospitals, education) areas (4%; Fig.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Nature and Distribution of Metals in Soils of the Sydney Estuary Catchment, Australia

Birch

Vanderhayden

Olmos

2010

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Total topsoil 50th percentile Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations (n=491) in the Sydney estuary catchment were 23 μgg −1 , 60 μgg −1 and 108 μgg −1 , respectively. Nine percent, 6% and 25% of samples were above soil quality guidelines, respectively and mean enrichment was 14, 35 and 29 times above background, respectively. Soils in the south-eastern region of the catchment exhibited highest metal concentrations. The close relationship between soil metal and road network distributions and outcomes of vehicular emissions modelling, strongly suggested vehicular traffic was the primary source of metals to catchment soils. Catchment soil and road dust probably make an important contribution to contamination of the adjacent estuary. The concentration of soil metals followed the land use trend: industrial> urban>undeveloped areas. A high proportion (mean 45%, 62% and 42%, for Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively) of metals in the soils may be bioavailable.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Nature and Distribution of Metals in Soils of the Sydney Estuary Catchment, Australia

Birch

Vanderhayden

Olmos

2010

Water Air Soil Pollut

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“…The regional survey being conducted by the University of Sydney has established that Port Jackson is the most contaminated New South Wales estuary and is one of the most polluted harbours in the world (Birch 2000). Studies of Port Jackson indicate that surficial sediment over extensive parts of tributaries and off‐channel embayments in urbanised/industrialised regions are contaminated by trace metals (Irvine 1980; SPCC 1983; Irvine & Birch 1998; Birch & Taylor 1999), organochlorine pesticide residues (OC) (Birch & Taylor 2000), nutrients (Birch et al . 1999) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (McCready et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical catchment changes and temporal impact on sediment of the receiving basin, Port Jackson, New South Wales

Taylor

Birch²,

Links

2004

Aust J Earth Sci

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Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) is a major deep-water estuary on the central New South Wales coast and is surrounded by a highly urbanised and industrialised catchment. Concentrations of trace metals and organochlorine pesticide residues are high in sediment in the upper reaches of the estuary. Historical fluxes of contaminants into the estuary were determined by radio-isotopic dating of 12 sediment profiles in nine highly contaminated embayments. The onset of contamination in estuarine sediment was correlated with catchment-wide urbanisation and industrialisation of Sydney. Contamination of estuarine sediment in Port Jackson first occurred ca 1860, near the present central business district and spread westward and northward. Trace-metal contamination was initiated ~20 years after the commencement of industry in the subcatchments, and a rapid increase in trace-metal concentrations corresponds closely with maximum industrial activity in these catchments. Organochlorine pesticide residues occur in estuarine sediments 40-50 years after the onset of contamination by trace metals and their appearance closely corresponds with the manufacturing and application history of these compounds. The transit time of contaminants from fluvial catchment to incorporation in estuarine sediment is short (probably <2 years). Trace metals in sediment reached maximum concentrations in 1970 and a subsequent decrease in concentrations in the upper estuary reflects relocation of industry away from the estuary foreshores and tighter controls on industrial discharges. In Middle Harbour and the lower estuary, trace-metal concentrations continue to increase, due to the comparatively recent increases in commercial and industrial growth in these areas.

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“…In general, PCB levels at Pina Sound are similar to those found in developing countries of the Americas and Africa with mean contamination usually ranging from 1-10 ng g -1 (Table 4) (Tolosa et al, 2010;El Nemr et al, 2013;Nouira et al, 2013). Nonetheless, the average concentration of PCBs in Pernambuco estuaries is about one order of magnitude lower than those found in coastal sediments of developed countries such as Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and New Zealand (Van Ael et al, 2012;Birch and Taylor, 2000;Burggraaf et al, 1994). Additionally, industrialized coastal areas of developing countries that host major commercial ports are more contaminated by PCBs than are Pernambuco estuaries.…”

Section: Comparison With Coastal Environments Around the Worldmentioning

confidence: 54%

The legacy of man-made organic compounds in surface sediments of Pina Sound and Suape Estuary, northeastern Brazil

et al. 2018

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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are man-made organic chemicals that have adverse effects on aquatic organisms, sometimes altering ecosystem functioning with potential consequences for the coastal carbon cycle. This study assessed PCBs and OCPs in surface sediments of two estuaries with distinct historical land use on the coast of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. OCPs such as HCB, aldrin, dieldrin, isodrin, mirex, methoxychlor, endosulfans (α- and β-isomers), HCHs (α-, β-, γ- and δ-isomers) and chlordane-related compounds were below their respective limits of detection in all samples. Mean levels of PCBs in Pina Sound and Suape Estuary were 4.37 and 0.94 ng g-1 dry weight (dw), respectively. Average concentrations of DDTs in those same estuaries were 5.24 and 0.42 ng g-1 dw, respectively. No significant correlations were found between mud and contaminants (either PCBs or DDTs) at Pina Sound. In contrast, PCBs were significantly associated with mud at Suape Estuary. The greater contamination found at Pina Sound is consistent with land use of the urban, densely populated city of Recife. Residues of DDTs found in sediments of both estuaries reflect past local usage. Occasional adverse biological effects may be expected due to the levels of DDTs at several sites in Pina Sound. Lower levels of chemicals such as PCBs in the newly industrialized Suape Estuary suggest that a similarly low impact of legacy pollutants may be expected for future industrial enterprises around the world.

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Distribution and possible sources of organochlorine residues in sediments of a large urban estuary, Port Jackson, Sydney

Cited by 62 publications

References 23 publications

The Nature and Distribution of Metals in Soils of the Sydney Estuary Catchment, Australia

The Nature and Distribution of Metals in Soils of the Sydney Estuary Catchment, Australia

Historical catchment changes and temporal impact on sediment of the receiving basin, Port Jackson, New South Wales

The legacy of man-made organic compounds in surface sediments of Pina Sound and Suape Estuary, northeastern Brazil

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