Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Occurrence of priority organic pollutants in Strymon river catchment, Greece: inland, transitional, and coastal waters

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Twenty-five sampling stations were selected in order to monitor persistent organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine (OC) pesticides and total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) in surface water from Kerkini Lake, the Strymon River, its main tributaries and estuary in N. Aegean Sea during January to July, 2008, according to recent European Union (EU) guidelines. The data were divided among the high (January to April) and the low flow season (May to July). Generally, the values for organic pollutants were within the range reported worldwide for surface water. Elevated PAHs concentrations were observed compared with other places in Greece. Anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene exceeded maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of the relative EU guideline. Also, concentrations above MAC were observed for OCs, γ-HCH, and a-endosulfan. Despite the fact that it is banned since 1972, Aldrin was detected during the monitoring season (from limit of detection (LOD) to 15 ng L−1). Total PCB concentrations ranged from LOD to 162 ng L−1. In addition, the load of organic pollutants was estimated in April (high flow) and June (low flow) in selected sampling stations. According to this estimation, napthalene, anthracene, and fluoranthene (PAHs), total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), aldrin, and total PCBs had the highest load. Taking into account the relative EU guidelines concerning the pollutants studied, the water quality in the Strymon River catchment could be characterized as poor, which can lead to negative impacts to its biota.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Administration of the Region of Central Macedonia, Water Resources Agency (ARCM-WRA) (2008) INTEREG III: Monitoring of surface water in Strymon River catchment according to E.U. guidelines—part 3: monitoring of biotic and abiotic parameters. Administration of C. Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Aguilar A, Borrell A, Reijnders PJH (2002) Geographical and temporal variation in levels of organochlorine contaminants in marine mammals. Mar Environ Res 53:425–452

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • American Public Health Association (APHA) (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. APHA, Washington D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • Bignert A, Olsson M, Persson W, Jensen S, Zakrisson S, Litzen K, Eriksson U, Haggberg L, Alsberg T (1998) Temporal trends of organochlorines in Northern Europe 1967–1995. Relation to global fractionation, leakage from sediments and international measures. Environ Pollut 99:177–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao Z, Wang Y, Ma Y, Xu Z, Shi G, Zhuang Y, Zhu T (2005) Occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reclaimed water and surface water of Tianjin, China. J Hazard Mater A122:51–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen B, Xuan X, Zhu L, Wang J, Gao Y, Yang K, Shen X, Lou B (2004) Distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface waters, sediments and soils of Hangzhou City, China. Water Res 38:3558–3568

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crunkilton RL, DeVita WM (1997) Determination of aqueous concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an urban stream. Chemosphere 35(7):1447–1463

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Dib MA, Badawy MI (1985) Organochlorine insecticides and PCBs in water, sediment and fish from the Mediterranean Sea. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 34:216–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Environmental Agency (E.E.A.) (2011a) Hazardous substances in Europe’s fresh and marine waters. An overview. E.E.A. Technical report, No8/2011

  • European Environmental Agency (E.E.A.) (2011b) Natura 2000, http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/interactive/natura2000gis/index_html

  • European Union (EU) (2000) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy. Off J Eur Commun L 327:1–72

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union (EU) (2001) Decision No 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and the Council. Establishing the list of priority substances in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC. Off J Eur Commun L331:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union (EU) (2006) Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and the council, concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC. Off J Eur Commun L 396:1–849

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union (EU) (2008) Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Off J Eur Commun L348:84–97

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union (EU) (2009) Commission decision (2009/95/EC) of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, a second updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region. Off J Eur Commun L 43:393–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez MA, Alonso C, Gonzalez MJ, Hernandez LM (1999) Occurrence of organochlorine insecticides, PCBs and PCB congeners in waters and sediments of the Ebro River (Spain). Chemosphere 38:33–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Field A (2009) Discovering statistics using SPSS, Third edition. Sage Publications, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC, 166-196, 316-346, 539-583

  • Golfinopoulos SK, Nikolaou AD, Kostopoulou MN, Xilourgidis NK, Vagi MC, Lekkas DT (2003) Organochlorine pesticides in the surface waters of Northern Greece. Chemosphere 50:507–516

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez-Gutierez A, Jover E, Bodineau L, Albaiges J, Bayona JM (2006) Organic contaminant loads into the Western Mediterranean Sea: estimate of Ebro River inputs. Chemosphere 65:224–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haritash AK, Kaushik CP (2009) Biodegradation aspects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): a review. J Hazard Mater 169:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helberg M, Bustnes JO, Erikstad KE, Kristiansen KO, Skaare JU (2005) Relationships between reproductive performance and organochlorine contaminants in great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus). Environ Pollut 134:475–483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) (1993) Chlorinated biphenyls in open ocean waters: sampling, extraction, clean-up and instrumental determination. Manual and guides no 27. UNESCO Press, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (1983) Benzo(a)pyrene, polynuclear aromatic compounds, part 1, chemical, environmental and experimental data, vol.32, Monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans, World Health Organization (WHO), http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol32/volume32.pdf, 211–224

  • International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) (1996) Guidelines for the determination of chlorobiphenyls in sediments: analytical methods. In: Report of the ICES Advisory Committee on the Marine Environment, 1996. ICES Coop Res Rep 217:100–104

    Google Scholar 

  • International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) (1999) Guidelines for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biota. In: Report of the ICES Advisory Committee on the Marine Environment, 1999. ICES Coop Res Rep 223:230–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwata H, Tanabe S, Sakai N, Nishimura A, Tatsukawa R (1994) Geographical distribution of organochlorines in air, water and sediments from Asia and Oceania and their implications for global redistribution from lower latitudes. Environ Pollut 85:15–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamarianos A (1981) Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoked foods. PhD Thesis, Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki

  • Kilikidis SD, Kamarianos AP, Karamanlis XN (1992) Seasonal fluctuations of organochlorine compounds in the water of the Strymon River (N. Greece). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 49:375–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kilikidis SD, Kamarianos A, Karamanlis X, Giannakou U (1994) Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the effluents of an urban waste treatment plant and the water, sediments and mussels of the receiver Thermaikos gulf (N. Greece). Fresenius Environ Bull 3:293–299

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Konstantinou IK, Hela DG, Albanis TA (2006) The status of pesticide pollution in surface waters (rivers and lakes) of Greece. Part I. Review on occurrence and levels. Environ Pollut 141:555–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lekkas T, Kolokythas G, Nikolaou A, Kostopoulou M, Kotrikla A, Gatidou G, Thomaidis N, Golfinopoulos S, Makri C, Babos D, Vagi M, Stasinakis A, Petsas A, Lekkas D (2004) Evaluation of the pollution of the surface waters of Greece from the priority compounds of List II, 76/464/EEC Directive, and other toxic compounds. Environ Int 30:995–1007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lepom P, Brown B, Hanke G, Loosc R, Quevauviller P, Wollgast J (2009) Needs for reliable analytical methods for monitoring chemical pollutants in surface water under the European Water Framework Directive. J Chromatogr A 1216:302–315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li YF, Macdonald RW (2004) Sources and pathways of selected organochlorine pesticides to the Arctic and the effect of pathway divergence on HCH trends in biota: a review. Sci Total Environ 342:87–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maldonado C, Bayona JM, Bodineau L (1999) Sources, distribution, and water column processes of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Northwestern Black Sea water. Environ Sci Technol 33:2693–2702

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manoli E, Samara C, Konstantinou I, Albanis T (2000) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the bulk precipitation and surface waters of Northern Greece. Chemosphere 41:1845–1855

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maskaoui K, Zhou JL, Hong HS, Zhang ZL (2002) Contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Jiulong River estuary and Western Xiamen Sea, China. Environ Pollut 118:109–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakata H, Kawazoe M, Arizono K, Abe S, Kitano T, Shimada H (2002) Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl residues in foodstuffs and human tissues from China: status of contamination, historical trend, and human dietary exposure. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 43:473–480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palma P, Alvarenga P, Palma V, Matos C, Fernandez RM, Soares A, Barbosa IR (2010) Evaluation of surface water quality using an ecotoxicological approach: a case study of the Alquera Reservoir (Portugal). Environ Sci Pollut Res 17:703–716

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramsar (2011) http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-home/main/ramsar/1_4000_0__

  • Tanabe S (2002) Contaminations and toxic effects of persistent endocrine disrupter in marine mammals and birds. Mar Pollut Bull 45:69–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1992) In: Clansky KB, Suspect chemical sourcebook, source list 10. EPA Human Health Assessment Group Substances (1992-2nd ed.), Roytech Publication Inc. Bethesda, MD

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1996) PCBs: a cancer dose–response assessment and applications to environmental mixtures. EPA/600/P-96/001F

  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2003) Strategic action programme. regional inventory. Quantities and uses of pesticides and PCBs for the Mediterranean region. UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.231/Inf.7, 17 April 2003

  • Zhang Z, Huang J, Yua G, Hong H (2004) Occurrence of PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in the Tonghui River of Beijing, China. Environ Pollut 130:249–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zolman J (1993) Biostatistics. Experimental design and statistical interference. Oxford University Press, Inc, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the European Union Project “Interreg III” and the administration of the region of Central Macedonia, N. Greece, for funding and supporting this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ecology and Protection of the Environment, Veterinary Medicine School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 404, 54 124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    V. D. Litskas, I. G. Dosis, X. N. Karamanlis & A. P. Kamarianos

Authors
  1. V. D. Litskas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. G. Dosis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. X. N. Karamanlis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. P. Kamarianos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. G. Dosis.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Ake Bergman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Litskas, V.D., Dosis, I.G., Karamanlis, X.N. et al. Occurrence of priority organic pollutants in Strymon river catchment, Greece: inland, transitional, and coastal waters. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 3556–3567 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0917-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0917-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation