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Alkylphenol ethoxylates and brominated flame retardants in water, fish (carp) and sediment samples from the Vaal River, South Africa

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Abstract

Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are known to be bio-accumulative, persistent, and endocrine disruptors and can cause adverse health effects in animals and humans. In this study, environmental samples were collected from sites along the Vaal River, South Africa in order to determine the concentrations of APEs and BFRs in water, sediment, and fish samples. The highest concentrations of these pollutants were observed from discharge of the Rietspruit WWTW. Measurable levels of both APEs and BFRs were observed with APEs exhibiting higher concentrations than BFRs in all the matrices. The concentrations observed for APEs and BFRs were as follows: 1.00–3.85 μg/L APEs, 0.09–0.26 μg/L PBDEs, ND- 0.14 PBBs and 0.51–1.77 μg/L HBCD for water samples; 47–63 ng/g lipid APEs, 3.24–12.4 ng/g lipid PBB, 4.63–33 ng/g lipid PBDEs and 10–13 ng/g lipid HBCD for fish; and 40–184 ng/g (wet weight (ww)) APEs, 2.93–5.9 ng/g (ww) PBB, 10–24 ng/g (ww) PBDEs, and 15–52 ng/g (ww) HBCD for sediment samples. The concentrations of APEs and BFRs in water samples were found to be in the range with the results reported in the literature while the concentration in fish and sediment were lower than the concentrations reported in other studies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to Rand Water Analytical Services for funding and providing the technical environment for this project which is part of Mr. Chokwe’s doctoral degree; Mr. R. Hariram and S.M. Mporetji for water, fish, and sediment samples collections; and Water Research Commission and Tshwane University of Technology for their support.

Compliance with ethical standards

The selected fishes from Barrage, Kliprivier, and Rietspruit were caught using fishing rod. Fish selected for analysis were killed by a blow to the head. The fish were individually wrapped in aluminum foil, placed in plastic bags packed with ice for transport to the laboratory where the samples were frozen pending preparation of the tissue samples. This procedure does not have a negative environmental impact and was approved by the Tshwane University of Technology ethics committee. There is no potential conflict of interest in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scientific Services, Rand Water, Vereeniging, 1930, South Africa

    T. B. Chokwe & E. J. Ncube

  2. Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    J. O. Okonkwo

  3. Directorate of Research and Innovation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    L. L. Sibali

Authors
  1. T. B. Chokwe
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  2. J. O. Okonkwo
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  3. L. L. Sibali
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  4. E. J. Ncube
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. O. Okonkwo.

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Responsible editor: Leif Kronberg

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Chokwe, T.B., Okonkwo, J.O., Sibali, L.L. et al. Alkylphenol ethoxylates and brominated flame retardants in water, fish (carp) and sediment samples from the Vaal River, South Africa. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 11922–11929 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4430-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4430-x

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