Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in sediment of bitumen deposit impacted area

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls were investigated in sediment of bitumen deposit impacted area of Agbabu, Nigeria, to determine the present level of contamination with these toxic compounds prior to exploitation. Samples were collected during the dry season [March] and the wet season [August] of year 2008. Analysis was carried out with gas chromatography using mass spectrometry detector for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and flame ionization detector for polychlorinated biphenyls. In the dry season sum of concentration of PAHs ranged from zero to 0.12 +/- 0.06 ppm, while in the wet season the minimum was 0.18 +/- 0.07 ppm and the maximum was 1.04 +/- 0.16 ppm. Most of these values were higher than sum of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations of 1-10 micro g/kg indicating that they were likely to come from anthropogenic sources. Average concentrations of PAHs such as naphthalene and benzo [a] pyrene obtained in sediment in the wet season in some of the stations were higher than recommended limits. The linear regression analysis between sum of concentrations and percentage organic carbon showed no significant correlation in sediment in the dry season [r [2]=0.0025] and in the wet season [r [2]=0.1345]. The predominance of 4-6 ringed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the ratios between pairs of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons showed that they are likely to have come from pyrolytic sources. No polychlorinated biphenyl congener was detected in the samples

PCB contamination in surface sediments in the coastal waters of Costa Rica

This paper describes the initial investigation of PCB concentrations in four geographical regions (three on the Pacific and one in the Caribbean) of coastal Costa Rica: Bahia Culebra, Golfo Dulce, Golfo de Nicoya, and Limón. Overall total concentrations of PCB were low in all areas except around the port of Golfito (Golfo Dulce). Overall average concentration is 2.80 ng/g dw, with a standard deviation of 2.75. The low concentration could be due to lack of contamination or the subsequent degradation in the warm climate, or the low sorptive capacity of the sediment. Further investigation is ongoing

Este articulo describe una investigación sobre las concentraciones de bifenilos policlorados (PCB) en cuatro regiones geográficas (tres en el Pacífico y una en el Caribe) costeras de Costa Rica.: Bahía Culebra, Golfo Dulce, Golfo de Nicoya, y Limón. Las concentraciones totales de PCB fueron bajas en todas las regiones excepto en el puerto de Golfito (Golfo Dulce). Las concentraciones promedio fueron de 2.80 ng /g dw, con una desviación estándar de 2.75. Las bajas concentraciones pueden estar asociadas a: la ausencia de contaminación por PCB, la degradación posterior en éste clima cálido, o la poca capacidad de absorción de los sedimentos

PCB concentrations in sediments from the Gulf of Nicoya estuary, Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Thirty-one sediment samples collected from 1996-2003 from the Gulf of Nicoya estuary on the north- western coast of Costa Rica, have been obtained for PCB analyses. This is part of the first study to evaluate the PCB contamination in coastal Costa Rica.Overall, the concentrations are low, especially when compared to sediments from more temperate climates and/or sediments from more heavily industrialized areas. Values average less than 3 ng/g dw sediment, however, a few samples contained up to 7 ng/g dw sediment. Sediments with the highest concentrations were located in the Punta Morales area, where muds were sampled from among mangrove roots. The Puntarenas samples had surprisingly low PCB concentrations, likely due to their sandy lithology. The congener distribution within the majority of the samples showed signs of either recent sources or lack of degradation. However, a few sites, specifically some of the inter-gulf islands and more remote samples had congener distributions indicative of airborne contaminants and/or degradation. Considering the presence of air-borne PCBs in the Gulf of Papagayo to the north, the lack of airborne PCBs and more varied congener distribution in the Gulf of Nicoya estuary was surprising

Se analizó los bifenilos policlorados (PCB) en 31 muestras de sedimentos colectadas entre 1996 -2003 en el estuario del Golfo de Nicoya, costa noroeste de Costa Rica. Esto es parte de un primer estudio para evaluar la contaminación por PCB en aguas costeras de Costa Rica. En general, las concentraciones fueron bajas especialmente cuando se les compara con sedimentos de climas templados y / o sedimentos de areas altamente industrializadas. Los valores promedio son inferiores a 3 ng / dw (peso seco) de sedimento. Sin embargo, unas pocas muestras contienen hasta 7 ng/ g dw de sedimento. Los sedimentos con las concentraciones más altas están localizados en el area de Punta Morales, en cienos de entre raíces de mangle. Las concentraciones de PCB en Puntarenas fueron sorprendentemente bajas, posiblemente por el tipo arenoso del sustrato. La distribución de congéneres dentro de la mayoría de las muestras muestran señal de una reciente contaminación o carencia de degradación . Sin embargo, en unos pocos sitios, específicamente en las islas internas del Golfo y otras areas más remotas tienen distribuciones de congéneres que indican contaminación por vía aerea y /o degradación. Cuando se considera la presencia de PCB transportados por via aerea en el Golfo de Papagayo al Norte, es sorprendente la ausencia en el Golfo de Nicoya de estos PCB y una distribución más variada de congéneres

PCB contamination in marine sediments from Golfo Dulce, Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Twenty-nine marine sediment samples collected from 1996 through 2002 from the Golfo Dulce embayment of Costa Rica were analyzed for PCB concentrations. The Esquinas River and Rincon Bay in the northern and western part of the gulf had relatively low overall concentrations of PCBs, with no samples having greater than 2.1 µg/g dw sediment. The Port of Golfito had the highest overall concentrations, ranging up to 15.7 µg/g dw sediment. These samples were also dominated by higher chlorinated congeners. Samples from the deeper (>100m) waters in the northern part of the gulf, as well as within the sediment plume from the Rio Coto Colorado had intermediate values. Within the Rio Coto Colorado sediment plume the concentrations did decrease with increasing depth and the congeners showed a shift towards less chlorinated congeners with depth. However, the deep northern basin had some of the highest PCB concentrations and the shift towards less chlorinated congeners was not apparent or significant. Whether the anoxic conditions that exist in the deep waters are capable of initiating dechlorination is still unknown. Overall, the data from Golfo Dulce show moderate PCB contamination, despite the pristine nature of the gulf and surrounding lands

Un total de 29 muestras de sedimentos recolectadas de 1996 a 2002 en el Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica fueron analizadas determinar las concentraciones de bifenilos policlorinados (PCBs). La Bahía de Rincón y el Río Esquinas en la parte noroeste del Golfo tienen concentraciones relativamente bajas de PCBs, con ninguna muestras superando los 2.1 ug/ dw (peso seco) de sedimento. El puerto de Golfito tuvo las mayores concentraciones hasta un máximo de 15.7 ug/g dw de sedimento. Estas muestras también estuvieron dominadas por los congéneres más clorinados. Las muestras de los sedimentos profundos (>100 m ) de las aguas de la parte norte del Golfo, así como las de la estela del Río Coto Colorado, tienen concentraciones intermedias. Dentro de la estela de sedimentos del Río Colorado las concentraciones aumentaron con la profundidad y los congéneres variaron con la profundidad hacia los menos clorinados. Sin embargo, la región profunda tuvo una de las más altas concentraciones de PCBs, pero la tendencia hacia los menos clorinados no fue aparente o significativa. No se conoce si las condiciones anóxicas en las aguas profundas son capaces de iniciar la declorización. En general, las muestras analizadas muestran concentraciones moderadas de PCBs, no obstante las condiciones pristinas del Golfo y su cuenca

Residue levels of organochlorine insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyl [PCB's] in some organisms from the mediterranean sea off Alexandria, Egypt

Four species of fish, three species of crustacean and one species of green algae were collected from the Mediterranean sea off Alexandria, and analysed for their DDT'S, PCB's and lindane content the results indicate that the higher concentration of PCB 's was found in Sardina spp. And the lower was found in penaeus japonicus. While the high level of lindane content was found in portunus pelagica. The concentration factor [cf] of EPCB' s EDDT' s and EHCH is high in sardine spp. Content. The ratios between DDE/PCB are significantly different for fish [0.22 +/- 0.12], while in crustaceans the ratio was 0.29 +/- 0.15 and 0.023 for algae. The results obtained for accumulation of pesticides within the food chain in marine organisms collected from the Egyptian waters are in good agreement with those obtained from other regions of the Mediterranean Sea

Acúmulo de policloretos de bifenila na populaçäo da Grande Säo Paulo, Brasil / Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in the population of Greater S.Paulo, Brazil

Os policloretos de bifenila (PCBs), cuja utilizaçäo iniciou-se em 1930 em sistema fechados (capacitores e transformadores elétricos) foram observados no ambiente em 1966, atingindo a cadeia alimentar e acumulando-se no tecido subcutâneo de seres humanos; ao mesmo tempo, foi possível mostrar que esses produtos químicos säo potencialmente nocivos para a saúde humana. Como em 1976 os PCBs foram encontrados no tecido gorduroso de pequena amostra da populaçäo brasileira, decidiu-se fazer um estudo mais amplo, analisando-se por cromatografia de fase gasosa a gordura do tecido celular subcutâneo de 189 pessoas, de ambos os sexos, que tinham sofrido morte violenta. Foram encontrados níveis médios de 0,8661 ppm em indivíduos do sexo masculino, que apresentaram aumento linear das concentraçöes de acordo com a idade, o que näo foi observado entre os do sexo feminino, onde os valores médios de acúmulo foram de 1,4530 ppm. Do total de amostras, 12,7% apresentaram níveis superiores a 1,95 ppm. É discutida a importância do achado e säo assinaladas as medidas de proteçäo da populaçäo brasileira exposta aos PCBs

Policloretos de bifenila: um grave problema ocupacional e ambiental / Polychlorinated biphenyls: an important occupational and environmental problem

É feita uma revisäo bibliográfica atualizada dos problemas tanto de natureza ambiental como de natureza ocupacional causados pelos policloretos de bifenila, destacando-se os estudos experimentais em animais e os estudos epidemiológicos que permitem um amplo conhecimento dos efeitos potencialmente nocivos desses agentes químicos