Revealing the factors affecting occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediments of Lake Baikal and its tributaries

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), total carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in water and sediments of Lake Baikal and its tributaries were measured. It was found that according to existing water and sediment quality standards limiting permissible PAH concentrations, both surface waters and sediments in Lake Baikal watershed can be considered as unpolluted with PAHs compounds. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of PAH concentrations in lake water indicates the existence of some point PAH sources in and around the lake. These sources were natural oil seeps and communal facilities such as residential coal-fired and oil-fired boilers. It was observed that concentrations of PAHs in both water and sediments are controlled by organic matter content and organic matter mineralisation degree, as indicated by PAH-to-carbon and nitrogen-to-carbon ratios respectively. It was found that PAH/TOC and PAH/TC ratios characterise PAH loading on water and sediments respectively, whereas DIN/TOC and TN/TC ratios characterise self-purification of water and sediments respectively. It was proved that PAH/TOC and DIN/TOC ratios can be used as tracers to evaluate the PAH contributions from tributaries to Lake Baikal.     

Reliable analysis of chlorophenoxy herbicides in soil and water by magnetic solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography

Environmental Chemistry Letters - There is no previous work on the determination of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides in soils. Here we analysed six chlorophenoxy acid herbicides using magnetic solid...     

Correction to: Trace element contamination status of surface marine sediments of Greece: an assessment based on two decades (2001–2021) of data

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

Trace element contamination status of surface marine sediments of Greece: an assessment based on two decades (2001–2021) of data

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study is a first attempt to assess the trace element contamination status in the surface sediments of the Hellenic Seas since the first...