Historical Changes in Levels of Organic Pollutants in Sediment Cores from Brno Reservoir, Czech Republic

Abstract

Results of a comprehensive study are presented on the spatial and depth-related distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in sediments of the Brno reservoir, Czech Republic. Based on sedimentological observations, three major historic phases were identified related to the evolution of the depositional environment, flow rate, and material input. Data on organic carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides showed specific distribution patterns in a 3-m-deep core. The analysis of the depth trends of the geochemical data combined with sedimentology made it possible to distinguish between remote sources of the pollutants, early weathering alterations of POPs, transport by river associated with organic matter as sorbent on one hand, and local sources weakly related to lithology on the other hand. The integrated sedimentological and environmental geochemical archive provided an improved dynamic view of the pollution in historical terms.

Which Compounds Contribute Most to Elevated Soil Pollution and the Corresponding Health Risks in Floodplains in the Headwater Areas of the Central European Watershed?

“…These risks may come into question for the localities in Cluster 3, where a high contribution of DDTs and metabolites to HHRs meets areas of intensive vegetable farming in floodplains near the Elbe and Eger confluence or in South Moravia. The regional patterns obtained in our floodplain study corresponded well with results of model-based predictions of POP concentrations in soils [ 43 ] and with some field observations of sediment, water, and biota [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. This indicates the general role of floodplains as an effective sink of overall regional pollution.…”

“…The floodplains of these lowland regions belong to traditional areas of intensive agricultural production over a long period of time. The observed regional pattern of Cluster 1 showed exceptional agreement with the predicted concentrations for DDTs in a regression tree model [ 43 ] and with some field observations of sediment geochemistry [ 48 ].…”

Organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediment of the Bosten Lake, Northwest China

“…Relative to Bosten Lake, water systems with higher OCP levels in China lie within major agricultural areas and the high OCPs detected in those regions are consequences of crop production although they were banned over 30 years ago (i.e., 1983). Slightly higher DDT and HCHs in Bosten Lake water may be contributed partially by OCP residues from soils transported into the lake via enhanced surface runoff (Santschi et al, 2001;Franců et al, 2010). Concentrations of PAHs in the environment were closely correlated with local human population, gross domestic product, number of vehicles and power generation, and thus can serve as a proxy for anthropogenic activities, especially industrial activities (Liu et al, 2012).…”

Organic compounds in the urban dusts in Celje area

“…Only qualitative measurements were made for screening purposes for 120 different organic compounds. Extraction, fractionation and analysis were done according to Czech geological survey procedures (Franců et al, 2010). The presence of certain chemicals was evaluated according to the presence of the peak on the chromatogram.…”