Assessment of bioavailable fraction of POPS in surface water bodies in Johannesburg City, South Africa, using passive samplers: an initial assessment

Abstract

In this study, the semipermeable membrane device (SPMD) passive samplers were used to determine freely dissolved concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in selected water bodies situated in and around Johannesburg City, South Africa. The devices were deployed for 14 days at each sampling site in spring and summer of 2011. Time weighted average (TWA) concentrations of the water-borne contaminants were calculated from the amounts of analytes accumulated in the passive samplers. In the area of interest, concentrations of analytes in water ranged from 33.5 to 126.8 ng l(-1) for PAHs, from 20.9 to 120.9 pg l(-1) for PCBs and from 0.2 to 36.9 ng l(-1) for OCPs. Chlorinated pesticides were mainly composed of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) (0.15-36.9 ng l(-1)) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloromethane (DDT) with its metabolites (0.03-0.55 ng l(-1)). By applying diagnostic ratios of certain PAHs, identification of possible sources of the contaminants in the various sampling sites was performed. These ratios were generally inclined towards pyrogenic sources of pollution by PAHs in all study sites except in the Centurion River (CR), Centurion Lake (CL) and Airport River (AUP) that indicated petrogenic origins. This study highlights further need to map up the temporal and spatial variations of these POPs using passive samplers.

Passive sampling of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in aquatic environments

“…(review in Vrana et al 2005;Kot-Wasik et al 2007;Mills et al 2007;Verreydt et al 2010;Zabiegala et al 2010;Harman et al 2012;Amdany et al 2014b;Lydy et al 2014;Mills et al 2014).…”

Status of PAHs in Environmental Compartments of South Africa: A Country Report

“…Passive samplers such as the semi permeable device (SPMD) are now seen as an emerging technology for assessing the bioavailable fraction in environmental media (29-33). Amdany et al (22,23) used passive samplers to assess the occurrence and seasonal trends of PAHs in water bodies around the Johannesburg area. Figure 4 shows the distribution pattern of freely dissolved PAHs in water bodies (22).…”

“…Amdany et al (22,23) used passive samplers to assess the occurrence and seasonal trends of PAHs in water bodies around the Johannesburg area. Figure 4 shows the distribution pattern of freely dissolved PAHs in water bodies (22). The distribution pattern follows the solubility of PAHs, unlike in sediments and that of total concentration in water bodies.…”

“…Some of reported publications on PAHs in South Africa include PAH molecular ratios (19,(21)(22)(23)41). PAHs molecular ratios are often used for possible identification of the sources of these compounds whether it is petrogenic or pyrolytic (5,(25)(26)(27).…”

“…Downloaded by [RMIT University] at 00: 15 13 August 2015 PAHs have been reported in several countries as they are a global problem and with diverse sources (3,5). In South Africa, although PAHs have been reported in various environmental media (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23), no comprehensive review is available that provides the status of such analyses, trends in concentration levels and existing gaps. This is very important because PAHs are emitted from numerous sources in South Africa.…”