Polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated naphthalenes in Swedish sediment and biota: levels, patterns, and time trends

Abstract

Levels of non-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), some mono-ortho-PCB, and resolved peaks of tetrato heptachloronaphthalenes are reported in biological and sediment samples from the Swedish environment. The results show that levels of individual PCB congeners, and especially PCB 126, may pose a greater threat to the environment than the 2,3,7,8-chlorinated dioxins and furans when expressed as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) toxic equivalents. Polychlorinated naphthalenes are as widespread pollutants as PCB, and at some locations the pollution situation indicates a specific source, leading to a bioaccumulating hexachloronaphthalene contributing considerably to the total TCDD-like toxicity. A time trend study of guillemot eggs from the Baltic Proper seems to indicate that levels of non-ortho-PCB and -PCN have decreased since the 1970s.

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in riverine and marine sediments of the Laizhou Bay area, North China

“…Pan et al investigated PCN concentrations in sediments collected from Qingdao coast sites with a concentration of 0.2e1.2 ng g À1 dw, similar with the PCN levels in marine sediments of Laizhou Bay found in our study (Pan et al, 2007). Compared to PCN levels in sediments found in other regions (Table 1), such as backgrounds in Sweden (0.14e7.6 ng g À1 dw) (Jaernberg et al, 1993), Venice lagoon (0.03e1.51 ng g À1 dw) (Eljarrat et al, 1999), Gdansk basin of Batic Sea (6.7 ng g À1 dw) (Falandysz et al, 1996), Gulf of Bothnia (0.27e2.8 ng g À1 dw) (Lundgren et al, 2003), coast of Barcelona (0.17e3.27 ng g À1 dw) (Castells et al, 2008), lake Ontario (21e38 ng g À1 dw) (Helm et al, 2008), Tokyo bay (1.81 ng g À1 dw) (Yamashita et al, 2000b), PCN levels in marine sediment of Laizhou Bay were at the lowest end of the range, while the levels in the rivers were similar with many studies in Europe, including the background sites, bays and coastal sites.…”

Risks and Management of Dioxins and Dioxin-like Compounds in Baltic Sea Fish: An Integrated Assessment

“…Annex 6B and SPCFC 2005). Such conclusions have been reached also for several Baltic fish consuming species including humans (e.g., , Järnberg et al 1993. A major contribution of PCBs to total dioxin risks has been found in also other aquatic systems, notably the Great Lakes (Zabel et al 1996, Kannan et al 2001.…”

“…PCNs have contributed in some cases significantly to overall dioxin toxicity in the Baltic and its biota through coplanar HxCNs and HpCNs, mainly CN 66 (e.g., Järnberg et al 1993). Notably, in harbour porpoise liver the contribution of HxCNs to quasiTEqs has been >50 %, exceeding that of CB 126 that dominated in other tissues .…”

Polychlorinated naphthalenes and other chlorinated tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emitted from combustion of polyvinylchloride

“…Therefore, CNs are proposed to add to the list of banned or restricted chemicals by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution-Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants [6]. They have been found in river sediment [7][8][9][10], aquatic biota [7,8,[11][12][13][14][15], human adipose tissue [16], and arctic air [17].…”