Pollution topography of chlorobenzenes and hexachlorobutadiene in sediments along the Kaohsiung coast, Taiwan--a comparison of two consecutive years' survey with statistical interpretation

Forty sediments were analyzed for chlorobenzenes (CBs) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) to investigate their pollution topography along the Kaohsiung coast, Taiwan. Maximum CB concentrations found, varied from 15.4 ng/g dw for 1,2,3-TCB to 56.8 ng/g dw for 1,2,4-TCB, while higher HCBD concentrations were detected among north-bound stations (around the exit of the Tsoying outfall pipe) and its concentration decreases from north to south. Compared to a previous survey executed a year before, there is no statistically significant difference in CB and HCBD congeners between these two surveys (p = 0.68–0.87, two-tailed paired t-test). The spatial distribution of toxic index reveals that biological effects might occur near Tsoying and Dalinpu outfall pipe outlets which dispose of petro-chemical wastewater. Evidence found in this study also shows distinct CB patterns from the two nearby sources, the Dalinpu outfall pipe outlet and the Kaoping estuary. Principal component analysis shows that four principal components conducting CBs and HCBD distribution were extracted. Both the first two components (accounted for 58.8% of the total variance), comprised all of the CBs except HCB (DCBs to PeCB), were found not capable of differentiating any distinct pollution source. On the other hand, HCBD and HCB were extracted as third and fourth components, respectively, pointing out their distinct sources in this area.