On polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons contamination levels in the ecosystem of Lake Peipsi in the 1970s?1980s

Abstract

The data on benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and other polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) pollution of Lake Peipsi and its tributaries in the 1970s-1980s have been summarized . Systematic data on the pollution of Lake Peipsi by BaP are available . The BaP content in lake water varied from <0 .1 to 237 ng 1 -1 . The content and qualitative composition of PAH varied in different observations . PAH were accumulated mainly in the bottom sediments ; in their surface layer BaP concentrations were 103-106 times higher than in water . The concentration of the PAH in bottom sediments varied from 16 to 580 pg kg -1 in the lake and from 40 to 2800 pg kg -1 in its tributaries . The content of BaP in fish and biota was not high . Among the pollution sources the atmospheric pollution played quite a significant role . The lake was also polluted by oil spillage and fuel exhausts from boats and ships . The PAH concentration in the water of the tributaries was somewhat higher than in the area of Lake Peipsi .

Historical changes in the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lake Peipsi sediments

“…The historical records for the emissions from power plants and previous studies of the temporal distribution of spherical fly ash particles in the sediments of some small lakes showed that the first signs of the impact of these emissions appeared in the 1920s and increased exponentially since the 1950s (Punning et al 1997). Evidence of atmospheric transport of PAHs adsorbed onto the smallest fly ash particles has been shown by many researchers (Trapido and Veldre 1996;Teinemaa et al 2002). Chamber experiments have identified the desorbed PAHs, PHE, FLT, pyrene, BaA, CHR, BbF and BaP (Teinemaa et al 2002).…”

“…2 Lithological characteristics of core PS4 in depth (cm) and age (right column, in 210 Pb years) scales ground concentrations, increase only 1.4 times) and BaP. By the data of Trapido and Veldre (1996) the BaP concentrations in aquatic plants in L. Peipsi varied in the 1970s-1980s from 0.56 to 53.5 ng g −1 , its average concentration in plankton was ca 5 ng g −1 and in fish tissues from 0.05 to 0.14 ng g −1 . It seems that there occurs a big difference in different links of the food chain.…”

“…Numerous studies (Trapido and Veldre 1996;Dahle et al 2003;Fang et al 2006;Quiroz et al 2005) have been conducted to identify the dominant source of PAHs in certain localities. Identifying the exact sources can be a complex process because there are usually many different sources of PAHs.…”

“…The detailed studies on the PAH content in Lake Peipsi (northeastern Europe) and its catchment conducted in 1979conducted in -1987conducted in (Paalme et al 1988Trapido and Veldre 1996;Veldre et al 2001) indicated that the regional atmospheric and riverside load can contribute a significant part of the total pollution of this lake. It was concluded that the main source of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is atmospheric emissions from the nearby power plants operating on a fossil fuel (oil shale).…”

“…The generation, deposition and redeposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as widely distributed pollutants and relatively persistent compounds in water and sediments have been extensively studied during the last decades (Suess 1976;Behymer and Hites 1988;Cripps 1989;Zhang et al 1993;Trapido and Veldre 1996;Pikkarainen 2004;Quiroz et al 2005;Fragoso et al 2006;Vaine et al 2007). As many PAHs are carcinogenic the origin and pathways of PAHs in the environment have been the focus of numerous studies.…”