Chlorinated and brominated organic pollutants in shellfish from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

Abstract

The global contamination with persistent organic pollutants (POPs), or compounds with similar characteristics, is well known. Still there are data gaps for POP concentrations from many areas in the world. The aim of the present study is to assess several legacies POPs and also hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) in shellfish from three locations in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. The sources of the contaminants are discussed. Pooled samples were treated by liquid-liquid extraction and acid and column cleanup prior to analysis by gas chromatogram equipped with electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The by far most abundant environmental contaminant originates from dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), independent of species analyzed or sampling site. The results indicate ongoing or at least recent discharges of DDT. The second highest concentrations were reported for HBCDD (21-40 ng/g fat) in the shellfish, independent of sampling sites. The two natural products, 6-MeO-BDE-47 and 2'-MeO-BDE-68, were also present in the shellfish (1.3-22 and 1-14 ng/g fat, respectively). The polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener CB-153 (0.8-6.5 ng/g fat), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (1.1-3.6 ng/g fat), and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) (2.3-4.9 ng/g fat) were all higher than the concentrations of other HCH isomers, β-endosulfan, PBDE congeners, and mirex. Apart from the DDTs and HBCDDs, it is evident that the pollution of shellfish was similar to, or lower than, the contamination of shellfish in other parts of the world.

Pollution levels of DDTs and their spatiotemporal trend from sediment records in the Southern Yellow Sea, China

“…Recent studies have indicated that dicofol may be the new source of DDTs in marine environment (Wong et al, 2005;Yin et al, 2015). Here, the indexes of (DDE + DDD) / DDTs (Qiu et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2011;Da et al, 2014) have been used for studying source changes of DDTs in the SYS.…”

“…Although the Yellow River and Yangtze River do not directly discharge into the YS, large amounts of terrestrial materials from these two rivers have been deposited in the YS due to transports by ocean currents (Huh and Su, 1999;Lim et al, 2007). In addition, the coastal areas of the southern YS (SYS) are densely populated, and aquaculture is highly developed (Yin et al, 2015). As a result approximately 7.6% of contaminants from municipal and industrial activities around the SYS coastal regions have been discharged into the SYS (China's State Oceanic Administration (CSOA), 2007; Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China (MEPPRC), 2007; Duan et al, 2013).…”

“…Recently, the major source of DDTs was switched from industrial production into the usage of dicofol after the ban of industrial DDTs (Qiu et al, 2005;Liu et al, 2008b). Though the above limited data have indicated lower ecological risks of DDTs in the SYS, but their current and future risks are still uncertain possibly as a result of the resuspension from sediments caused by cyclonic eddy (Alexander et al, 1991;Bi et al, 2011;Hu et al, 2013), as well as from new inputs (Wong et al, 2005;Yin et al, 2015).…”

Spatial distribution and bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in snails (Bellamya aeruginosa) and sediments from Taihu Lake area, China

“…Benthic invertebrates are considered as good indicator species for local environmental pollution since they have a wide geographic distribution and a low mobility (Goldberg et al 1978; Ramu et al 2007b). Mussels have been widely applied to investigate environmental contamination of POPs and heavy metal (Giandomenico et al 2013; Ramu et al 2007a; Yin et al 2015). However, in the Taihu Lake area, mussels are commonly cultivated for pearl production and the natural mussels are rarely found.…”

Fabrication of tri-layer structured CdS/SiO2/sulfonated PS composite sphere and its photocatalytic behavior

“…Especially, some persistent organic pollutants (pops) possess good chemical stability, high toxicity, and longevity in natural environment [1,2], which have caused many serious problems for human health. How to remove the pops through an efficient and economic method has become urgent.…”