Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in sediment cores from the Western Scheldt river (Belgium): analytical aspects and depth profiles

A Covaci*, A Gheorghe, S Voorspoels, J Maervoet, E Steen Redeker, R Blust, P Schepens

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

A rapid and simple analytical method for the determination of organochlorines, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and selected organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) and organobromines, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in sediment samples was optimised using CRM 536 (PCBs in freshwater sediment). The method involved a hot Soxhlet extraction that reduced the extraction time to 2 h. Elemental sulphur, which is present in sediments and may interfere during the analysis, was removed by means of copper powder added to the sediment during extraction and into the clean-up cartridge. The analysis of PCBs and OCPs was accomplished by gas chromatography with electron capture or mass spectrometric detection. Similar quantitative results for PCB congeners in CRM 536 were obtained using a 50-m capillary column and a 10-m narrow bore column suited for fast analysis. The analysis of PBDEs was done by mass spectrometry in negative chemical ionisation mode.

Concentrations of organic pollutants in two sediment cores (approximately 50 cm depth) from the Scheldt river (south of Antwerp, Belgium) showed a relative steady state for PCBs and DDTs, with a slight decrease in the top layers, suggesting a slight decline in their concentrations due to restrictions in their usage. On the contrary, PBDEs were showing an increase in their concentrations in the top layers (up to 270 and 8400 ng/g dry weight for sum of tri- to hexa-BDE congeners and for BDE 209, respectively). This suggests an increasing trend in the concentrations of PBDEs in the Belgian environment. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)367-375
Number of pages9
JournalEnvironment International
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • sediment core
  • Scheldt river
  • PBDEs
  • PCBs
  • OCPs
  • method optimisation
  • BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS
  • NORTH-SEA
  • ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
  • ESTUARY
  • PCBS
  • NETHERLANDS
  • POLLUTANTS
  • HISTORY
  • METALS
  • BIOTA

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