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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments of Liaohe River: levels, spatial and temporal distribution, possible sources, and inventory

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Abstract

Spatial and seasonal variations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the sediment of Liaohe River were investigated in this study. A total of 29 surface sediment samples were collected in May and September in 2013. Results showed that levels of the two classes of compounds were higher in September than in May. The total concentration of PBDEs (∑8PBDEs) ranged from 0.30 to 5.09 ng g−1 in May and from 0.17 to 13.73 ng g−1 in September, respectively, and BDE 209 was the dominant compound. The total concentration of PCBs (∑33PCBs) was in the range of 4.92–76.86 and 11.69–179.61 ng g−1 in May and September, respectively, with tri- and tetra-CBs dominated in the total PCBs in the sediments. According to the congener profiles and the principal component analysis, the major sources of PCBs and PBDEs in sediments of Liaohe River were from the usage of commercial products and industrial activities, and the degradation of high brominated BDEs also contributed to the current PBDEs in the sediments. The mass inventories of PBDEs and PCBs in the sediments of Liaohe River were 1.74 and 21.96 t, respectively, indicating that Liaohe River sediments may act as the potential sources of PBDEs and PCBs to the downstream coastal areas.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by National Science Foundation of China (51178438), Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (2012ZX07501-001, 2012ZX07503-003), and by Free Exploration Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Jiapei Lv, Yuan Zhang, Xin Zhao, Changbo Zhou, Changsheng Guo, Wei Meng & Jian Xu

  2. College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China

    Yi Luo

  3. Pingdingshan Institute of Comprehensive Utilization and Environmental Conservation, Pingdingshan, Henan, China, 467036

    Guofang Zou

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  1. Jiapei Lv
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  2. Yuan Zhang
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  3. Xin Zhao
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  4. Changbo Zhou
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  5. Changsheng Guo
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Correspondence to Jian Xu.

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Lv, J., Zhang, Y., Zhao, X. et al. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments of Liaohe River: levels, spatial and temporal distribution, possible sources, and inventory. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 4256–4264 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3666-1

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