Biomonitoring of polychlorinated byphenyls contamination in the supralittoral environment using the sandhopper Talitrus saltator (Montagu)

We evaluated the use of Talitrus saltator as biomonitor of polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) contamination of the supralittoral zone of Mediterranean sandy shores, an area not yet investigated about the presence of these pollutants. Twenty of 22 PCB congeners analysed were detected and quantified in sand and sandhoppers' samples collected in 6 different sites along the Tyrrhenian coast of Central Italy. Among the congeners analysed, PCB 153 and PCB 138 were the most abundant both in amphipods and sand samples and, regarding the congener pattern analysis, hexa-, hepta- and penta-PCBs were the most abundant congeners in sandhoppers. Though hydrophobic compounds, such as PCBs, bind strongly to sand and sediments, PCB concentrations were higher in T. saltator than in the sand revealing a good ability of this species to accumulate this class of contaminants. The concentration of each PCB congener recorded in tissues of sandhoppers showed significant differences among sampling sites revealing a good ability of these species to accumulate PCBs at different concentrations depending on the contamination levels of the sampling site. Therefore, our results suggest the possible utilisation of T. saltator as a biomonitor of PCB contamination of the supralittoral zone of Mediterranean sandy shores.     

PCB disposition and different biological effects in rats following direct soil exposure vs. PCBs off-gassed from the soil

A comparison of PCB congener profiles and limited biological effects was made between direct exposure to PCB-contaminated soil and vapor phase PCBs from that soil to determine congener patterns useful for identifying exposure sources in humans and wildlife. Weanling female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to either control or PCB-contaminated soil (from a landfill in Southern Illinois) for 1 and 2 weeks. The exposures were via direct contact with the soil or via airborne exposure with the rats isolated from the soil by a wire screen. Total PCB of 25% contaminated soil used in the study was 13?500?ppm. No PCBs were detectable in control rats. In direct-exposed rats, total PCB residues in fat pad, ear skin, serum, liver, and inguinal lymph nodes after the 1-week exposure were 6256, 185, 3.2, 149, and 41?ppm, respectively, but decreased to 465, 72, 1.7, 106, and 32.4?ppm after the 2-week exposure. In airborne-exposed rats, total PCB residues were 7.8, 1.6, 0.03, 0.2, and 0.6 in the same manner and slightly increased in fat pad and ear skin to 11.6 and 2.14, respectively. Decreases in both the concentrations and percentages of “episodic” PCBs (those congeners rapidly metabolized) in the fat pad were apparent following the 2-week exposure compared to the 1-week exposure by both routes. Both EROD and BROD activities were significantly increased in the direct-exposed rats, whereas only BROD activity increased in airborne-exposed rats. Serum T ₄ levels were depleted in the direct-exposed rats regardless of time of exposure but were increased insignificantly after 1-week and significantly after 2 weeks in the airborne-exposed rats. No significant changes in serum insulin levels were apparent in any of the treated groups. The results suggested that exposure of animals to PCBs via different routes could result in different PCB profiles, which could cause different biological effects.     

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in sediment samples of twelve rivers in eastern China

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener concentrations and their distributions were determined for the first time in 12 major rivers of eastern China. It was found that the PCB contamination level in those rivers was relatively low compared to the levels reported in most developing countries. Total amount of PCBs in the river sediments ranged from 10 to 22 ng/g dry weight and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (DDE) ranged from 0.89 to 7.62 ng/g. The PCB concentrations were basically homogeneous in different rivers; however, they consistently changed with the percent of total organic carbon (TOC). The PCB concentrations and compositions found in the 12 river sediments were very similar, with the tetra‐ and penta‐ groups as the dominants. Given that distributions and contaminant levels in sediments reflect the number of PCBs, the contamination of the 12 major rivers in eastern China is probably due to atmospheric deposition rather than the point source contamination.     

Foodweb modeling for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Twelvemile Creek Arm of Lake Hartwell,South Carolina,USA

PCBs from the Sangamo-Weston Superfund Site near Clemson, South Carolina, USA, were released into the Twelvemile Creek Arm of Lake Hartwell until the early 1990s. Monitoring data have shown that while PCB concentration in sediments declined since 1995, PCB concentrations in fish have remained elevated, e.g., largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) concentrations have ranged from 5 to 10 ppm. The EPA aquatic ecosystem model AQUATOX was applied to this system to better characterize foodweb dynamics that lead to biomagnification of PCBs. The model was calibrated with observed fish biomass data. Simulated PCB loading over a 12-year period provided a reasonable fit to observed PCB data in fish. The model demonstrated that contaminated labile detritus loaded to the system was incorporated into the foodweb rather than deposited, thereby maintaining the PCB concentrations in fish while concentrations in the sediment declined. A dominant PCB pathway was from detritus to daphnia to shad to largemouth bass. Fish PCB concentrations showed moderate sensitivity to toxicant parameters; model runs incorporating uncertainty in these parameters predicted recovery (<2 ppm PCB) for all species in the range of years from 2008 to 2013. The high sensitivity of the model to parameters related to growth strongly affected PCB concentrations in fish and should be considered in future AQUATOX applications.     

Clam‐sediment accumulation factors for polychlorinated biphenyl congeners at a contaminated estuarine marsh

Clam‐sediment accumulation factors for hexa‐, hepta‐ and octa‐chlorobiphenyls were estimated at an intertidal marsh that has been contaminated with Aroclor 1268. Accumulation factors for PCB congeners with K _ow > 6.5 were in the range of 0.07–0.88, indicating that their uptake was hindered by steric factors, contamination levels, non‐equilibrium conditions and stronger affinity to sediment organic carbon. Biota‐sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) were negatively correlated with log K _ow of superhydrophobic PCB congeners. BSAFs estimated based on 2,3,7,8‐TCDD equivalents of PCBs were 2‐fold greater than those derived from total PCB concentrations.     

Ecotoxicological assessment of sediment from Texcalac River and agricultural soil of riverside area,in Tlaxcala,Mexico

This study assesses the potential risk of Texcalac River and riparian area. The p,p′ DDT and ∑DDTs levels in agricultural soils (3.9–208.0?µg/kg) and in surface sediments (0.6–137?µg/kg) surpassing the guidelines for protection of aquatic life (75% > TEC). The ∑PCBs concentration oscillated from 135 to 93941?µg/kg; the half of sediments exceeded the international guidelines (PEL, PEC), as well as two soils (SQGE?=?500?µg/kg). The TEQ concentration of four PCB-DL varied between 0.1 and 24.9?µg TEQ/kg, chiefly affected by PCB 169. Five sediments were lethal for E. foetida, two resulted to be cytotoxic and the 58% produced genotoxicity higher than negative control (A?=?0.28?±?0.05; DICA?=?72.5?±?16.9 au). Likewise, 31.6% of samples increased the micronuclei frequency in V. faba in comparison with negative control. The analytical data and the bioassays results suggest a significant and immediate risk to exposed biota of this region, highlighting a specific area in Texcalac River and other one in Sambrano Ravine. It is necessity assess the dispersion of pollutants and perform biomonitoring studies that display the exposure levels in biota with the goal to characterise the ecotoxicological risk.     

Spatial and seasonal variation of polychlorinated biphenyls in Songhua River, China

The spatial and seasonal variation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated in water and sediment samples collected from Songhua River, China, from 2007 to 2008. The total concentration of PCB congeners ranged from 1.1 to 14 ng/l in water and 0.26–9.7 ng/g dry weight (dw) in sediment. The results of seasonal variation may suggest an impact to PCB concentration in water from its atmospheric input, the dilution to PCBs concentrations of high stream in summer, and a general trend towards increased volatilization in warmer conditions. From PCBs concentrations comparison between upstream and downstream of industrial urban cities, it was obvious that industrial urban cities reflect an important pollutant source for PCBs in our study, also with the evidences of high concentrations of PCBs occurring in high development industry and residential areas. Meanwhile, the homologue profile of PCBs in Songhua was analyzed, whose comparison with published data indicates that the sources of PCBs accumulated in the sediment may also came from the residue of PCBs production in China. Total five dioxin-like PCBs (CB-77, 81, 105, 114, and 126) and nine (CB-77, 81, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 156, and 167) were found in Songhua water and sediment.     

Biotransfer of persistent organic pollutants from a large site in China used for the disassembly of electronic and electrical waste

Samples of groundwater, river water, river sediment, paddy soil, rice seeds, hen eggs, fish, umbilical cord blood, and newborn meconium were collected from October 2002 to October 2003 near a large site in China used for the disassembly of obsolete transformers and other electronic or electrical waste. Six indicator PCB congeners, three non-ortho dioxin-like PCB congeners, and six organochlorine pesticides were determined in the samples by GC with electron capture detector. The results demonstrated that the local environment and edible foods had been seriously polluted by toxic PCBs and organochlorine pesticides. The actual daily intakes (ADIs) of these pollutants were estimated for local residents living in the area. The intake data showed that the contents of PCBs in these local residents were substantial, as the ADI estimates greatly exceed the reference doses set by the World Health Organization and the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The presence of the indicator PCB congeners in the cord blood and the meconium samples, as well as significant correlations (r ² > 0.80, p < 0.05) between these levels, suggests a potential biotransfer of these indicators from mothers to their newborns. This preliminary study showed that obsolete transformers and other electronic or electrical waste can be an important source for the emission of persistent organic pollutants into the local environment, such as through leakage, evaporation, runoff, and leaching. Contamination from this source appears to have reached the level considered to be a serious threat to environmental and human health around the disassembly site.     

典型灌区稻田多氯联苯残留特征及生态风险评估

以南方典型小灌区的两块稻田为试验小区,采用GC-ECD对其田间水体和土壤中EPA优控14种多氯联苯（PCBs）进行了检测和定量分析。结果表明,14种PCBs同系物有不同程度检出,优势残留物主要以3氯和5氯取代PCBs为主,水和土壤占PCBs总量的88.24%、90.13%。水中∑PCBs质量浓度为24.09～310.34ng·L^-1,其中地表水均值为245.84ng·L^-1,地下水均值为96.46ng·L^-1;土壤中∑PCBs质量分数为10.01～54.63ng·g^-1,均值为33.92ng·g^-1。稻田地表水中的PCBs质量浓度远高于地下水,垂向迁移明显但速度较慢;稻田地表及地下水中PCBs质量浓度有随时间衰减的趋势,可能与水稻的生育周期有关;淹灌处理稻田PCBs质量分数高于节水灌溉。研究区毒性当量TEQ在2.65×10^-2～7.54×10^-2pg·g^-1之间,生态风险处于中等水平。地表及地下水均遭到污染,再加上PCBs具有生态累积效应,危害不容忽视。     

Occurrence of PCBs and PAHs in an urban soil of Madrid (Spain)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analysed in surface soil samples collected in 2001–2002 at an open urban area of Madrid. In order to obtain representative samples, three collection points at the site were chosen. The most abundant PAHs and PCBs were phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene and hexa- and heptachlorinated PCBs, respectively. The sum of selected PAHs (13 compounds) and PCBs (15 congeners) averaged 1 and 0.1?µg?g^?1, respectively. PCB levels in winter were 2–10 times higher than summer ones, while seasonal variation for most of PAHs were not observed. Good correlations among all PCBs were found. Five PAHs were also well correlated.     

Monitoring and risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in agricultural soil from two industrialized areas

For monitoring and risk assessment, levels and distributions of Σ₂₉ PCBs in paddy soil samples collected from Gwangyang (10 sites) and Ulsan (20 sites), heavily industrialized cities in Korea, were investigated using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Overall, total concentrations of Σ₂₉ PCBs in Gwangyang (216.4–978.6 pg g^?1 dw) and Ulsan (273.8–1824.1 pg g^?1 dw) were higher than those (106.6–222.6 pg g^?1 dw) in agricultural soil from Anseong in Korea. The TEQ (toxic equivalency) values from Gwangyang (0.06–0.40 ng TEQ kg^?1 dw) and Ulsan (0.06–0.22 ng TEQ kg^?1 dw) were higher than those (0.04–0.11 ng TEQ kg^?1 dw) in Anseong but lower than the WHO threshold level (20 ng TEQ kg^?1). However, one of the most toxic congeners, PCB 126, gave the highest concentration, possibly posing a risk to the biota. Seven indicator PCB congeners contributed to 50–80% of the total concentration of Σ₂₉ PCBs, indicating the 7 PCBs can be used as valuable indicators for monitoring. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis for the homologue profiles of PCBs indicated that all the samples from both cities had the similar PCB contamination patterns, and the major sources of the PCB contamination were most likely from the usage of Aroclor 1254 than those of Aroclors 1242 and 1260. These PCB technical mixtures were possibly significantly used by various industries including iron and steel industries in Gwangyang and petrochemical and shipbuilding industries in Ulsan.     

Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in the cockle Cerastoderma edule and the tellin Macoma balthica

Two species of marine bivalve, Cerastoderma edule (Linnaeus) and Macoma balthica (Linnaeus), were exposed to particles contaminated with three commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixtures, Aroclors^® 1242, 1254 and 1260. The accumulation of PCB in bivalve tissue was monitored for periods of up to 40 days. In addition to measuring total PCB concentrations, which reached 60 ppm of Aroclor 1242 in M. balthica, the fate of individual PCB homologues of different chlorine content, ranging from 2 to 8 chlorine atoms per biphenyl molecule, was also determined. Selective accumulation of PCBs with 5 chlorine atoms per biphenyl molecule occurred, whilst isomers of very low and very high molecular weights were accumulated at much slower rates.     

Plutonium and Americium: Uptake from contaminated sediments by the polychaete Nereis diversicolor

The polychaete Nereis diversicolor O.F. Müller was exposed to marine sediments which had been contaminated with plutonium and americium either through the testing of nuclear devices or by the release of liquid waste effluent from a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. The uptake of both plutonium and americium was small, about 0.5% of the concentration of these transuranics in the sediments. The degree of relative uptake of plutonium from both sediments was comparable; relative uptake of americium from sediments contaminated by waste effluent was greater than that from nuclear sediment and those previously determined from water-uptake experiments to environmentally determined plutonium concentrations in sediments and overlying waters leads to the tentative conclusion that water may be the predominant pathway for plutonium accumulation by deposit-feeding worms like N. diversicolor.     

The adsorption of PCBs to Yangtse River sediment

The adsorption of six PCB congeners to natural sediments from the Yangtse River was investigated. Experiments were conducted at different PCB concentrations to get the adsorption isotherm for each compound. Analytical determinations were carried out using gas chromato‐graphy with ECD detector. Results showed that the adsorption mechanism of PCBs on Yangtse River sediment fitted the best to the Langmuir adsorption model. It was also found that the adsorption rate decreased as the solubility increased or the octanol‐water partition coefficient decreased for each compound.     

太湖流域水源地多氯联苯分布特征与污染水平

为系统了解太湖流域主要水源地多氯联苯(PCBs)的污染现状,于2012年3月和6月分别采集水相、悬浮颗粒物和沉积物样品,并利用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)对PCBs的浓度进行了分析。结果表明,3月水相、悬浮颗粒物和沉积物中均未检测出PCBs类物质。6月水相中PCBs质量浓度在ND~1.04 ng·L~(-1)之间,平均值为0.57 ng·L~(-1),悬浮颗粒物和沉积物中PCBs质量浓度分别在0.96~2.72 ng·g-1和0.47~1.29 ng·g-1之间。Aroclor 1016和Aroclor 1260在3种介质中均有检出,且Aroclor1016浓度均为最高。与国内外研究相比较,太湖流域主要水源地PCBs污染水平较低。水相中PCBs浓度水平低于我国地表水环境质量标准;悬浮颗粒物和沉积物中PCBs浓度水平均低于加拿大保护水生环境沉积物化学品风险评价标准的LEL值,说明各样点PCBs对底栖动物无毒性影响。     

Coplanare polychlorierte Biphenyle (PCB) in den Oberböden Hamburgs

Goal and Scope

In topsoil samples of areas with different land use within the agglomeration of Hamburg, the coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls PCB 77, 126 und 169 were determined to estimate the importance of coplanar PCBs in urban soils. Proportions relative to Balischmiter-PCBs (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) and PCDD/F concentrations were examined.

Methods

Soil samples were taken from different depths (litter horizon, 0–10 cm, 0–30 cm) at 24 different sites within the State territory of Hamburg. Coplanar PCBs, Ballschmiter-PCBs and PCDD/Fs were analysed by GC-MS-coupling in the soil fraction <2 mm. Congener distributions are discussed with respect to contamination sources.

Results and Conclusion

Land use and position of soil sample areas are only of subordinate importance for coplanar PCB concentration of the soil samples. The industrial centre of Hamburg (including harbour) shows higher contamination concentrations than the suburban areas. In levels, patterns and relative proportion to PCDD/F concentrations, the samples from dredging material disposal fields differ from all other samples. Calculation of coplanar TEQs related to total TEQs shows a contribution to total TEQs of 11–32% for the background (non dredging material influenced) samples.

Recommendation and Perspective

Estimation of coplanar PCB concentrations by determining Ballschmiter-PCB concentrations in top soil samples does merely work at samples which contamination is caused by the use of commercial PCB mixtures. Rating samples by TEQ concentrations, an increase of TEQs up to 30%, due to coplanar PCBs, should be reckonned. These considerations should be reason for extending the usual PCB determinations of Ballschmiter-PCBs to coplanar PCBs in more cases than is the general practice today.     

电子垃圾拆解区土壤中典型手性PCBs分布及对映体特征

龙塘镇位于广东省清远市,是国内最大的进口电子垃圾集中处理处置地之一.通过对龙塘镇土壤中7种手性PCBs对映体浓度和对映体百分数(enantiomer fractions,EF)值的测定,发现龙塘镇土壤样品除PCB45和PCB174外,其余5种手性PCBs在土壤中均有不同程度的检出.土壤中5种目标手性PCBs(PCB91、PCB95、PCB132、PCB136和PCB149)的总浓度为145.4—286.7 ng·g^-1,这与先前文献中测定清远市土壤中手性PCBs污染水平基本一致.5种同系物的含量排序为PCB95>PCB132>PCB136>PCB149>PCB91.在距离电子垃圾拆解区10km以外的区域也检测到手性PCBs,证实这些污染物已经迁移到周边地区.土壤中手性PCB91、PCB95、PCB132、PCB136和PCB149的EFs值分别为0.519±0.005、0.4443±0.006、0.427±0.003、0.379±0.016和0.494±0.008,其中PCB149具有双向选择性.在全部检出样品中26%的PCB91、78%的PCB95、100%的PCB132、86%的PCB136和53%的PCB149具有非外消旋特征,表明该地区土壤中手性对映体选择性降解的显著性.     

Chorioallantoic membrane as a non-lethal sampling method for polychlorinated biphenyls analysis in the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are documented endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This study examined the bioaccumulation of PCBs and the utility of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a non-lethal sampling technique for PCB analysis in the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin), a species endemic to US East Coast salt marshes. To determine the viability of the CAM as a surrogate for PCB burdens within this species, maternal transfer of PCBs to CAM and egg samples was studied. Egg and CAM samples were collected from populations in Cape May County, NJ and Jamaica Bay, NY; liver samples were collected only from NJ terrapins. PCB congeners were detected in all sample types, but less-chlorinated congeners preferentially partitioned in the CAM. Liver and egg sample PCB concentrations were strongly correlated (p=0.002, r _s=0.883), but PCB concentrations of CAM were not strongly correlated to liver (p=0.035, r _s=0.733) and egg samples (p=0.036, r _s=0.484). Examination of homologue groups indicated a strong correlation between penta- and hexachlorinated biphenyls for all sample types. This study shows that maternal transfer of PCB contaminants occurs with selective partitioning of congeners into the CAM, and that analysis of the CAM alone may not reflect total PCB body burdens in this species.     

Feeding and bacteriolytic responses of the deposit-feeder Abarenicola pacifica (Polychaeta: Arenicolidae) to changes in temperature and sediment food concentration

Deposit-feeders can respond to seasonal fluctuations in food concentration both functionally (e.g. by adjusting feeding rates) and physiologically (e.g. by changing the concentration of bacteriolytic agents in gut fluids). Laboratory feeding experiments were carried out (11 to 21 July 1997) with the arenicolid polychaete worm Abarenicola pacifica (Healy and Wells). Objectives were to test for separate and interactive effects of sediment food concentration and temperature (6, 11, and 16 °C) on deposit-feeder functional (feeding rates) and physiological (bacteriolytic activity of gut fluids) responses. Food concentration was varied experimentally using sieved (1 mm) natural sediments (Md φ=2.00; 0.6% organic) mixed with combusted (500 °C, 8 h) sediments for final concentrations of 25, 50, and 100% natural sediment. Sediment food quality was measured as: (1) bioavailable amino acids (EHAA), (2) chlorophyll a (chl a), and (3) bacterial abundance. Feeding rates were inferred from egestion rates (ER, g h⁻¹) and analyzed with respect to worm size. Bacteriolytic activity of midgut fluids was assayed turbidimetrically against two bacterial isolates, after worms had fed on experimental sediments for 15 d. Temperature and food concentration both significantly affected feeding rates, with maxima occurring at 50 and 100% natural sediment mixtures, and at high (16 °C) temperature. ER was positively, but not significantly correlated with EHAA and chl a; a positive, significant correlation was detected between ER and sediment bacterial abundance. Overall, functional responses agreed with earlier compensatory intake models for deposit-feeders. However, the size and direction of these responses was temperature-sensitive, suggesting that these models need to be adjusted for changes in absorption rates. No effects of ambient temperature or food concentration on bacteriolytic rates were observed, possibly due to compensatory mechanisms or the presence of multiple bacteriolytic agents in gut fluids. Received: 28 June 1999 / Accepted: 14 March 2000     

Detection of polychlorinated biphenyls employing chemical dechlorination followed by biphenyl whole cell sensing system

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a mixture of 209 individual chlorinated compounds commonly known as PCB congeners. These compounds are hydrophobic and are persistent in the environment. Their use was banned in the US a few decades ago because of harmful health effects. Therefore, detection of PCBs in environmental samples is increasingly important. To that end, we have developed a two-step simple and sensitive method for the detection of total PCBs. Specifically, our method involves dechlorination of PCBs to biphenyl followed by detection of biphenyl using a whole cell sensing system as the detection system. The whole cell sensing system consists of cells of the strain Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 harboring plasmid pSD7000. Plasmid pSD7000 contains the gene of lacZ, a reporter protein under the control of the bph operon. The detection is achieved through the emission of light afforded by the expression of reporter protein triggered by the presence of biphenyl. Due to the fact that this operon is activated only by few PCB congeners, a chemical dechlorination method was employed to convert all PCBs to biphenyl, and thus all the PCBs present in a given sample are able to be detected. The results showed that PCB congeners were rapidly (30?min) and efficiently (>98.5%) dechlorinated to biphenyl using a Mg/K₂PdCl₆ catalyst, and the biphenyl could be subsequently quantified using the whole cell sensing system. This hybrid analytical method that combines classical dechlorination with novel biosensing methods may find applications in the on-site monitoring of PCBs contamination levels.