Levels and sources of PCDDs, PCDFs and dl-PCBs in the water ecosystems of central Poland — A mini review

Abstract

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are unwanted by-products in a variety of industrial and thermal processes. They have been present on Earth long before the human era, since they may be also formed as a result of forest fires or volcanic explosions. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in turn, have been intentionally produced by humans. Poland was a minor producer of PCB mixtures (Chlorofen and Tarnol), which were a source of direct and indirect environmental diffusion with PCB and less with PCDDs/PCDFs. Industrial accidents with PCDDs/PCDFs were absent in Poland. Their stability and resistance to thermal breakdown made them very dangerous for environment and, in consequence, due to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the terrestrial and aquatic food chains, to humans. Humans may become affected by PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs through environmental (soil and water contamination, fish and food), occupational (incinerators; pulp, paper and metallurgy industry; copper production), or accidental (Seveso accident) exposure. The aim of this review was to evaluate environmental hazard caused by PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like-PCBs in the central region of Poland based on the accessible data on diffusion of those compounds in sediments and riverine, reservoir and storm water from our previous studies and discussed in the context of other achievements in Poland and elsewhere.

Environmental exposure to persistent organic pollutants measured in breast milk of lactating women from an urban area in central Poland

“…In the case of dl-PCBs, PCB-118 congener turned out to be the most common compound. This congener is a compound most frequently found in both biological (milk, blood) and environmental (sediments, ashes, or water) matrices (Zieliński et al 2014, Urbaniak et al 2008, 2014. Its mean concentration was 3326 ± 1804.87 pg/g fat, while the maximum determined value was as much as 9570 pg/g fat.…”

“…Its mean concentration was 3326 ± 1804.87 pg/g fat, while the maximum determined value was as much as 9570 pg/g fat. Similarly, in the case of the OCDD congener, it has also been the most common one among dioxins and significantly affects the total amount of all PCDDs in the sample (Zieliński et al 2014;Urbaniak et al 2012Urbaniak et al , 2014. Nevertheless, its contribution to total toxicity of the entire sample is insignificant.…”

Estimation Inventories of Persistent Organic Pollutants from Rice Straw Combustion as an Agricultural Waste

“…A double auger mechanism was operated that transported the biomass to the combustion chamber from storage powered by a mechanical system. Sampling for PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PAHs was performed according to an internal method based on EN 1948 reference methods (UNI EN 1948EN -1:2006EN , 2006UNI EN 1948-4:2014, 2014 [29]. Sampling was conducted using an ST5 Isokinetic auto-sampler pump (DadoLab, Cinisello Balsamo, Italy) connected to a titanium probe (Isokinetic Heated Probe HP5 DadoLab, Cinisello Balsamo, Italy), which was separately used to collect both organic micro-pollutants and metals (Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively) [30].…”

“…Chlorinated compounds originating from pesticides or fertilizers were believed to be responsible for dioxin emissions resulting from combustion [22,30,44]. These compounds are normally not specifically associated with combustion.…”

Determination of Selected Organic Contaminants in the Port of Gdynia Sediments: Towards Cleaner Baltic Ports

“…Since they have poor solubility in water, they fall and accumulate on the bottom. Sediment particles, together with adsorbed dioxins, become part of the food chain, in which dioxins bioaccumulate [32]. In the marine environment, dioxins can infiltrate organisms via ingestion or respiration or adhere to their surfaces through sorption.…”