TY - JOUR
T1 - Risks posed by trace organic contaminants in coastal sediments in the Pearl River Delta, China
AU - Fung, C. N.
AU - Zheng, G. J.
AU - Connell, D. W.
AU - Zhang, X.
AU - Wong, H. L.
AU - Giesy, J. P.
AU - Fang, Z.
AU - Lam, P. K.S.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a Central Allocation Grant (8730020) awarded by the Research Grants Council, Hong Kong, and the Area of Excellence Scheme under the University Grants Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, China (Project no. AoE/P-04/2004).
PY - 2005/10
Y1 - 2005/10
N2 - Local marine environments in China's Pearl River Delta (PRD), the most rapidly developing region in one of the world's fastest growing economies, have been experiencing significant environmental stress during the past decades. This investigation was conducted to determine the status and trends of persistence organic pollutants (POPs) such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine (OC) pesticides and dioxin-related compounds in marine sediments collected from sixteen coastal stations in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in March 2003. Elevated concentrations of PAHs (94-4300 ng/g), PCBs (6.0-290 ng/g), PHCs (14-150 μg/g), and DDTs (1.4-600 ng/g) were detected in sediment samples. In addition, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-like activities in the sediment samples were estimated to range from 0.3 to 440 pg TCDD-EQ/g. Sediments collected from Xiashan contained the greatest concentrations of trace organic contaminations amongst all the sampling stations in the present study. The degree of trace organic contamination was, in general, more severe at stations situated along the west shores of the PRD than their counterparts in the east. A preliminary assessment was performed to examine the probable risks to the marine ecosystem due to POPs. The results showed that OC pesticide contamination in the PRD was particularly serious and might pose a threat to the health of the marine inhabitants.
AB - Local marine environments in China's Pearl River Delta (PRD), the most rapidly developing region in one of the world's fastest growing economies, have been experiencing significant environmental stress during the past decades. This investigation was conducted to determine the status and trends of persistence organic pollutants (POPs) such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine (OC) pesticides and dioxin-related compounds in marine sediments collected from sixteen coastal stations in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in March 2003. Elevated concentrations of PAHs (94-4300 ng/g), PCBs (6.0-290 ng/g), PHCs (14-150 μg/g), and DDTs (1.4-600 ng/g) were detected in sediment samples. In addition, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-like activities in the sediment samples were estimated to range from 0.3 to 440 pg TCDD-EQ/g. Sediments collected from Xiashan contained the greatest concentrations of trace organic contaminations amongst all the sampling stations in the present study. The degree of trace organic contamination was, in general, more severe at stations situated along the west shores of the PRD than their counterparts in the east. A preliminary assessment was performed to examine the probable risks to the marine ecosystem due to POPs. The results showed that OC pesticide contamination in the PRD was particularly serious and might pose a threat to the health of the marine inhabitants.
KW - Dioxin-related compounds
KW - Environmental risks
KW - Organochlorine pesticides
KW - Petroleum hydrocarbons
KW - Polychlorinated biphenyls
KW - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
KW - Sediments
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/25844514184
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.02.040
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.02.040
M3 - Article
C2 - 16199239
AN - SCOPUS:25844514184
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 50
SP - 1036
EP - 1049
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
IS - 10
ER -
