Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Marine Organic Micropollutants

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science ((BRIEFSENVIRONMENTAL))

  • 379 Accesses

Abstract

Micropollutants, a group of lipophilic xenobiotic persistent organic pollutants (POPs), are semivolatile, bioaccumulative, toxic, and long-range environmental transport ability (Jones and de Voogt 1999). Organochlorines (OCs) such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides (such as HCHs and DDTs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent an important group of such hazardous substances that have caused worldwide concern as toxic environmental contaminants. In 2001, the Stockholm Convention on POPs acknowledged these as global problems. Although the occurrence of POPs at elevated levels is of great environmental concern at contaminated hot spots, the regional and global significance of the problem has received increased attention in the last decades (UNECE 1998; UNEP 2001). They have been reported to cause variety of effects including immunologic, teratogenic, carcinogenic, reproductive, and neurological problems in organisms (Kodavanti et al. 1998) and are of considerable concern to human and environmental health. In addition, some congeners have shown some effects on the endocrine system such as reducing serum concentrations of the thyroid hormones like thyroxine and triiodothyronine (Koopman-Esseboom et al. 1994). The lipophilic nature, hydrophobicity, and low chemical and biological degradation rates of these xenobiotics have led to their accumulation in biological tissues and a subsequent magnification of concentrations in organisms progressing up the food chain. Individual POPs have characteristic patterns of distribution depending on regional patterns of usage and their physicochemical properties. Considering the global distribution of POPs, it is important to understand their transport mechanism and to identify any “hot spots,” where regulatory and remediation efforts are required. To evaluate the effectiveness of the regulations and remediation, monitoring of POPs is essential to protect environmental health and the importance of global monitoring of POPs was emphasized at the Stockholm Convention (Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Allan RJ (1986) The role of particulate matter in the transport and burial of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. In: Hart BT (ed) The role of particulate matter in the transport and fate of pollutants. Water Studies Center, Chisholm Institute of Technology, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • AMAP (2004) AMAP assessment 2002: persistent organic pollutants in the Arctic. In: Wilson SJ, Packman G (eds) Arctic monitoring and assessment programme (AMAP). Oslo, Norway

    Google Scholar 

  • Antizar-Ladislao B, Mondal P, Sarkar SK (2015) Assessment of trace metal contamination level and toxicity in sediments from coastal regions of West Bengal, eastern part of India. Mar Pollut Bull 101:886–894. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya BD, Hwang JS, Tseng LC, Sarkar SK, Rakshit D, Mitra S (2014) Bioaccumulation of trace elements in dominant mesozooplankton group inhabiting in the coastal regions of Indian Sundarban mangrove wetland. Mar Pollut Bull 87:345–351. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.050

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya BD, Nayak DC, Sarkar SK, Biswas SN, Rakshit D (2015) Distribution of dissolved trace metals in coastal regions of Indian Sundarban mangrove wetland: a multivariate approach. J Clean Prod 96:233–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman PM, Wang F (2001) Assessing sediment contamination in estuaries. Environ Toxicol Chem 20(1):3–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee M, Sklenars L, Chenery SR, Watts MJ, Marriott AL, Rakshit D, Sarkar SK (2014) Assessment of total Mercury (HgT) in sediments and biota of Indian Sundarban Wetland and Adjacent Coastal Regions. Environ Nat Resour Res 4(2):50–64, ISSN 1927-0488 E-ISSN 1927-0496

    Google Scholar 

  • Colombo JG, Khalil MF, Horth AC, Catoggio JA (1990) Distribution of chlorinated pesticides and individual polychlorinated biphenyls in biotic and abiotic compartments of the Rio de La Plata. Environ Sci Technol 24:498–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Connell DW, Hawker DW, Warne MJ, Vowles PP (1997) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In: McCombs K, Starkweather AW (eds) Introduction to environmental chemistry. CRC, Boca Raton, pp 205–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Corsolini S, Sarkar SK, Guerranti C, Chatterjee M, Biswas SN, Jonathan MP (2012) Perfluorinated compounds in recent sediments of the Ganges River and adjacent Sundarban mangrove wetland, India. Mar Pollut Bull 64:2829–2833. doi:10.1039/c3em30819g

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Boer J, de Boer K, Boon JP (2000) Polybrominated biphenyls and diphenylethers. In: Paasivirta J (ed) The handbook of environmental chemistry, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, pp 61–95, part K

    Google Scholar 

  • de Boer J, van der Zande TE, Pieters H, Ariese F, Schipper CA, van Brummelen T et al (2001) Organic contaminants and trace metals in flounder liver and sediment from the Amsterdam and Rotterdam harbors and off the Dutch coast. J Environ Monit 3:386–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Voogt P, Wells DE, Reutergardh L, Brinkman UAT (1990) Biological activity, determination and occurrence of planar, mono- and di-ortho PCBs. Int J Environ Anal Chem 40:1–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Domínguez C, Sarkar SK, Bhattacharya A, Chatterjee M, Bhattacharya BD, Jover E, Albaigés J, Bayona JM, Alam MA, Satpathy KK (2010) Quantification and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in core sediments from Sundarban Mangrove Wetland, India. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 59(1):49–61. doi:10.1007/s00244-009-9444-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eduljee GH (1988) PCBs in the environment. Chem Br 24:241–244

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fattorini D, Sarkar SK, Bhattacharya BD, Chatterjee M, Regoli F, Satpathy KK (2012) Levels and chemical speciation of arsenic in representative biota and sediments of a tropical Mangrove wetland, India. Environ Sci Processes Impacts 15(4):773–782. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.09.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox WM, Connor L, Copplestone D, Johnson MS, Leah RT (2001) The organochlorine contamination history of the Mersey estuary, UK, revealed by analysis of sediment cores from salt marshes. Mar Environ Res 51:213–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibb H et al (2016) Hair mercury concentrations in residents of Sundarban and Calcutta. India. Environ, Res, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.03.028i

  • Haglund PS, Zook DR, Buser HR, Hu J (1997) Identification and quantification of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and methoxypolybrominated diphenyl ethers in Baltic Biota. Environ Sci Technol 31:3281–3287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hakanson L (1992) Sediment variability. In: Burton GA Jr (ed) Sediment toxicity assessment. Lewis, Boca Raton, pp 19–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrad SJ, Sewart AP, Alcock R, Boumphrey R, Burnett V, Duarte-Davidson R, Halsall C, Sanders G, Waterhouse K, Wild SR, Jones KC (1994) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the British environment: sinks, sources and temporal trends. Environ Pollut 85:131–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helle E, Olsson M, Jensen S (1976) DDT and PCB levels and reproduction in ringed seal from the Bothnian Bay. Ambio 5:188–189

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y, Liu X, Bai J, Shih K, Zeng EY, Cheng H (2013) Assessing heavy metal pollution in the surface soils of a region that had undergone three decades of intense industrialization and urbanization. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20(9):6150–6159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones KC, de Voogt P (1999) Persistent pollutants (POPs): state of science. Environ Pollut 100:209–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang Y, Sheng G, Fu J, Mai B, Zhang G, Lin Z, Min Y (2000) Polychlorinated biphenyls in surface sediments from Pearl River Delta and Macau. Mar Pollut Bull 40:794–797

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kannan K, Ramu K, Kajiwara N, Sinha RK, Tanabe S (2005) Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Irrawaddy dolphins from India. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 49:415–420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kodavanti PRS, Ward TR, Derr-Yellin EC, Mundy WR, Casey AC, Bush B et al (1998) Congenerspecific distribution of PCBs in brain regions, blood, liver, and fate of adult rats following repeated exposure to Aroclor 1254. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 153:199–210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Konat J, Kowalewska G (2001) Polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs in sediments of the southern Baltic Sea-trends and fate. Sci Total Environ 280:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koopman-Esseboom C, Morse DC, Weisglas-Kuperus N, Lutkeschipholt IJ, Ven der Paauw CG, Tuinstra LG et al (1994) Effects of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls on thyroid hormone status of pregnant women and their infants. Pediatr Res 36:468–473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Law RJ, Biscaya JL (1994) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—problems and progress in sampling, analysis and interpretation. Mar Pollut Bull 29:235–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee KT, Tanabe S, Koh CH (2001) Distribution of organochlorine pesticides in sediments from Kyeonggi Bay and nearby areas, Korea. Environ Pollut 114:207–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zhang G, Qi S, Li X, Peng X (2006) Concentrations, enantiomeric compositions and sources of HCH, DDT, and chlordane in soils from Preal River Delta, South China. Sci Total Environ 372:215–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald RW, Barrie LA, Bidleman TF, Diamond ML, GregorD J, Semkin RG, Strachan WMJ, Li YF, Wania F, Alaee M et al (2000) Contaminants in the Canadian Arctic: 5 years of progress in understanding sources, occurrence and pathways. Sci Total Environ 254:93–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Massolo S, Bignasca A, Sarkar SK, Chatterjee M, Bhattacharya BD, Aftab Alam M (2012) Geochemical fractionation of trace elements in sediments of Hugli River (Ganges) and Sundarban wetland (West Bengal, India). Environ Monit Assess 184(12):7561–7577. doi:10.1007/s10661-012-2519-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCready S, Slee DJ, Birch GF, Taylor SE (2000) The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surficial sediments of Sydney Harbor, Australia. Mar Pollut Bull 40:999–1006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McElroy AE, Farrington JW, Teal JM (1989) Bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment. In: Varanasi U (ed) Metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment. CRC, Boca Raton, pp 1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohn WM, Tiedje JM (1992) Microbial reductive dechlorination. Microbiol Rev 56:482–507

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neff JM (1979) Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment. Applied Science, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosado D, Usero J, Morillo J (2015) Application of a new integrated sediment quality assessment method to Huelva estuary and its littoral of influence (Southwestern Spain). Mar Pollut Bull 98:106–114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.07.008

    Google Scholar 

  • Sainz A, Ruiz F (2006) Influence of the very polluted inputs of the Tinto–Odielsystemon the adjacent littoral sediments of southwestern Spain: a statistical approach. Chemosphere 62:1612–1622, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.06.045

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar SK, Bhattacharya AK (2003) Conservation of biodiversity of the coastal resources of Sundarbans, Northeast India: an integrated approach through environmental education. Mar Pollut Bull 47:260–264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar SK, Saha M, Takada H, Bhattacharya A, Mishra P, Bhattacharya B (2007) Water quality management in the lower stretch of the River Ganges, east coast of India: an approach through environmental education. J Clean Prod 15:65–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar SK, Binelli A, Chatterjee M, Bhattacharya BD, Parolini M, Riva C, Jonathan MP (2012) Distribution and ecosystem risk assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in core sediments of Sundarban Mangrove Wetland. Polycycl Aromat Compd 32(1):1–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheykhi V, Moore F (2013) Evaluation of potentially toxic metals pollution in the sediments of the Korriver, southwest Iran. Environ Monit Assess 185:3219–3232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sprovieri M, Feo ML, Prevedello L, Manta DS, Sammartino S, Tamburrino S, Marsella E (2007) Heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in surface sediments of the Naples harbour (southern Italy). Chemosphere 67:998–1009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swackhamer D, Hites RA (1988) Occurrence and bioaccumulation of organochlorine compounds in fish from Siskiwit Lake, Isle Royale, Lake Superior. Environ Sci Technol 22:543–548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Syvitski JPM, Kettner AJ, Overeem I, Hutton EWH, Hannon MT, Brakenridge GR, Day J, Vӧrӧsmarty C, Saito Y, Giosan L, Nicholls RJ (2009) Sinking deltas due to human activities. Nat Geosci. doi:10.1038/NGEO629

    Google Scholar 

  • UNECE (1998) The 1998 Aarhus protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/pops_h1.htm

  • UNEP (2001) The Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants. United Nations Environmental Programme. http://www.chem.unep.ch/sc/default.htm

  • UNEP Stockholm Convention (2003) Master list of action: on the reduction and/or elimination of the residues of persistent organic pollutants, 5th edn. United Nations Environmental Programme, Geneva, p 34

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP/MAP (2003) Riverine transport of water, sediments and pollutants to the Mediterranean Sea. MAP technical reports series no 141, Athens

    Google Scholar 

  • Vassilopoulou V, Georgakopoulous-Gregoriades E (1993) Factors influencing the uptake of organochlorines in red mullet (Mullus barbatus) from a gulf of Central Greece. Mar Pollut Bull 26:285–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Venturini N, Pita AL, Brugnoli E, García-Rodríguez F, Burone L, Kandratavicius N (2012) changes in the sediment organic matter of a semi-enclosed marine system (W-Mediterranean Sea). Hydrobiologia 397:59–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Vezzulli L, Fabiano M (2006) Sediment biochemical and microbial variables for the evaluation of trophic status along the Italian and Albanian continental shelves. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 86:27–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang HS, Du J, Leung HM, Oi Wah Leung A, Liang P, Giesy JP, Wong CKC, Wong MH (2011) Distribution and source apportionment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in mariculture sediments from the Pearl River Delta, South China. Mar Pollut Bull 63:516–522

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watts MJ, Barlow TS, Button M, Sarkar SK, Bhattacharya BD, Alam MA, Gomes A (2013) Arsenic speciation in polychaetes (Annelida) and sediments from the intertidal mudflat of Sundarban mangrove wetland, India. Environ Geochem Health 35(1):13–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiberg PL, Harris CK (2002) Desorption of p, p′-DDE from sediment during resuspension events on the Palos Verdes shelf. California: a modelling approach. Cont Shelf Res 22:1005–1023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wurl O, Obbard JP, Lam PKS (2006) Distribution of organochlorines in the dissolved and suspended phase of the sea-surface microlayer and seawater in Hobg Kong, China. Mar Pollut Bull 52:768–777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuloaga O, Prieto A, Ahmed K, Sarkar SK, Bhattacharya A, Chatterjee M, Bhattacharya BD, Satpathy KK (2013) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in recent sediments of Sundarban mangrove wetland of India and Bangladesh: a comparative approach. Environ Earth Sci 68(2):355–367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, West Bengal, India

    Santosh Kumar Sarkar

Authors
  1. Santosh Kumar Sarkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sarkar, S.K. (2016). Introduction. In: Marine Organic Micropollutants. SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43301-1_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation