Halogenated Organic Contaminants in Sediments of the Havel and Spree Rivers (Germany). Part 5 of Organic Compounds as Contaminants of the Elbe River and Its Tributaries

Abstract

To give a detailed and comprehensive view on the state of pollution of the Havel and Spree rivers nontarget screening as well as quantitative (target) analyses were applied to anoxic sedimentsamples. Based on nontarget GC/MS analysis a significant contribution to the anthropogenic contamination could be attributed to halogenated compounds. Three groups of contaminants corresponding either to diffuse or local contamination could be distinguished. Several commonly observable compounds including pentachloroanisol, polychlorinated biphenyles, 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid, and chlorinated benzenes were detected with a distribution reflecting the contribution of nonpoint source emissions. A second group of chlorinated as well as brominated compounds was attributed to a strong point source emission at the Teltow Canal. At the sampling locations influenced by this point source the amount of mono- and dibrominated naphthalenes, chlorinated naphthalenes, and hexachlorocyclohexanes as well as DDT- and methoxychlor-related compounds increased significantly as compared to the background concentrations. A third group of halogen compounds emitted at this site consisted of the pesticides bromopropylate, methoxychlor, and chlorfensone as well as specific brominated aromatics including 2,4,6-tribromoaniline, 4,4'-dibromobenzophenone, and brominated benzenes. In addition, tetrabromochlorotoluenes, tribromodichlorotoluenes, dibromotrichlorotoluenes, and 2,2-bis(4-bromophenyl)acetic acid isopropyl ester were identified and are reported for the first time as environmental contaminants. The amounts of brominated compounds detected in Teltow Canal sediments occurred at a similar concentration level as their chlorinated analogues. Therefore, investigations on the occurrence of such a broad spectrum of brominated compounds as established in this work are presumably required more frequently to assess the environmental impact of this type of emissions.

Quantitation of Nonextractable Anthropogenic Quantitation of Nonextractable Anthropogenic Sediments after Chemical Degradation

“…This spectrum of compounds was in accordance with analytical results obtained from Teltow Canal sediments situated nearby as previously published [22,24].…”

“…Therefore, this emission can be characterized mainly by the occurrence of DDT and its metabolites as well as of brominated aromatics (e.g., brominated naphthalenes) in the nonextractable organic fraction of the affected sediment samples. This spectrum of compounds was in accordance with analytical results published for the extractable fraction of comparable sediment samples of the Teltow Canal [22].…”

“…Within the group of halogenated aromatics also 2,4,6-tribromoaniline was determined, which was previously characterized as a specific pollutant derived from the local industrial emissions [22]. Brominated anilines are used as coupling components in azo dye production [29].…”

“…Apart from these contami- 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim nants derived from huge local emissions of an industrial point source, numerous anthropogenic organic substances were additionally detected, representing a diffuse contamination mainly due to sewage effluents [22]. Considering this wide spectrum of free solvent extractable organic contaminants, the incorporation of DDT residues and of several supplementary anthropogenic substances has to be assumed.…”

Temporal and Spatial Trends of Total Aliphatic Hydrocarbons of Diesel Range and Trace Elements in Sediments and Mussels of the Corral Bay Area, Valdivia, South Central Chile

“…This organohalogenated compound has been previously reported in environmental samples, and it has been detected as a contaminant in organobromine fire retardants 27,28 . This aromatic organobromine compound was not detected in the remaining sites and its origin could be attributed to intensive traffic of fluvial transportation of wood chips between the processing plant located upstream the Valdivia and Angachilla rivers and the Corral Bay.…”