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Freely dissolved PCDD/F concentrations in the Frierfjord, Norway: comparing equilibrium passive sampling with “active” water sampling

  • SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT IN NORWAY • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Introduction

Equilibrium passive samplers consisting of 55-µm polyoxymethylene (POM) and 170-µm polydimethylsiloxane were tested for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzodioxin/furan (PCDD/F) in the pore water and overlying water of the Frierfjord, a bay in southern Norway. This fjord is heavily polluted with PCDD/Fs due to emissions from a former Mg smelter.

Results and Discussion

Field exposures of both equilibrium passive sampler types yielded similar results for freely dissolved PCDD/F concentrations (C W,free) in the overlying water. In addition, the passive sampling data deviated less than an order of magnitude from C W,free obtained with conventional “active” sampling through pumping/filtration over glass fiber filters and polyurethane foam. A similar comparison was done for the pore water, where POM passive samplers also proved to yield freely dissolved pore water concentrations (C PW,free) that deviated less than an order of magnitude from earlier published values measured by direct pore water extraction. The data were also used to derive sediment–water activity ratios, which indicate the diffusive flux direction. High sediment-to-water activity ratios (median value of 160 for 17 congeners) indicated a strong diffusion gradient between the sediment pore water and the overlying water, probably due to deposition of particle-bound PCDD/Fs in combination with low sedimentation rates.

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Abbreviations

AOC:

Amorphous organic carbon

C PW,free :

Freely dissolved pore water concentration

C W,free :

Freely dissolved fjord water concentration

DOC:

Dissolved organic carbon

GFF:

Glass fiber filters

K:

Solid–water distribution ratio

PCDD/F:

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxin/furan

POM:

Polyoxymethylene (passive sampler)

PDMS:

Polydimethylsiloxane (passive sampler)

PUF:

Polyurethane foam

TOC:

Total organic carbon

WHO-TEQ:

World Health Organization toxic equivalents

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded through a grant from Norsk Hydro. Kerstin Grunder and Yngve Zebühr (ITM, Stockholm University, Sweden) are thanked for indispensable analytical help. Hans Peter H. Arp (NGI) is thanked for critical comments on the manuscript. This paper has benefitted from POM research carried out for the Research Council of Norway, project 178141, HavKyst program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930, Ullevål Stadium, 0806, Oslo, Norway

    Gerard Cornelissen

  2. Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadallèen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway

    Kristoffer Næs

  3. Department of Applied Environmental Sciences (ITM), Stockholm University, Frescativägen 50, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden

    Gerard Cornelissen & Dag Broman

Authors
  1. Gerard Cornelissen
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  2. Dag Broman
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  3. Kristoffer Næs
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Correspondence to Gerard Cornelissen.

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Responsible editor: Gijs D. Breedveld

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Cornelissen, G., Broman, D. & Næs, K. Freely dissolved PCDD/F concentrations in the Frierfjord, Norway: comparing equilibrium passive sampling with “active” water sampling. J Soils Sediments 10, 162–171 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-009-0152-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-009-0152-3

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