Micro-pollutants in sediment samples in the middle Danube region, Serbia: occurrence and risk assessment

Abstract

This is the first comprehensive study on the occurrence of 940 semi-volatile organic compounds including sterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, plasticizers, and other emerging compounds in 10 river and canal sediments collected in northern Serbia. For quantification of investigated compounds GC-MS-MS (selected reaction monitoring) and GC-MS (using both selected ion monitoring and total ion monitoring) methods were used. The number of detected compounds was in the range of 85-117, while the sum of the concentrations varied from 959 μg/kg dry-wt to 84,445 μg/kg dry-wt. Sterols were quantified with high frequency in nearly 100% of investigated samples suggesting that the studied rivers and canals have been contaminated by sewage. Regarding persistent organic compounds, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, and o,p'-DDT were the dominant members of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). The concentration range of 11 quantified pesticides of 452 analyzed was from 0.564 to 61.6 μg/kg dry-wt, while the concentration range of 47 quantified PCBs of 90 analyzed was from 0.928 to 32.1 μg/kg dry-wt. OCPs (DDE, DDD, and γ-HCH) and several PAHs (fluoranthene, pyrene, phenanthrene, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene) exceeded the maximum values of the sediment quality guidelines. Contents of domestic compounds comprise a large proportion of the total contaminant concentration. Overall, the study reveals that river sediments in Vojvodina Province were moderately polluted mainly by domestic wastewater. The toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) relative to benzo(a)pyrene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin for seven carcinogenic PAHs and six quantified dioxin-like PCBs ranged from 3.59 to 103 μg TEQ/kg and from 0.001 × 10 to 2.10 × 10 μg TEQ/kg, respectively, and were in the range or lower than the literature published data.

Organochlorine pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in surficial sediments of the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia

“…HCH’s concentration in the Awash River basin was similar to its concentrations in the Soan River, Pakistan [ 43 ]. A wide range of concentrations of HCH was recorded in this study as compared to report on the surface sediments of the Rivers in middle Denube, Serbia [ 44 ] and the Yellow River, China [ 45 ]. In contrast, the range of HCH concentration in this study area was found to be lower than a report from the Qiantang River, China [ 15 ].…”

“…The concentration of ∑DDTs was lower than reports in the Qiantang River, China [ 15 ], the Rivers in middle Denube, Serbia [ 44 ] and on the Soan River, Pakistan [ 43 ]. Whereas higher concentration of ∑DDT was recorded in this study area as compared to reports on the Huaihe River, China [ 46 ].…”

“…Whereas higher concentration of ∑DDT was recorded in this study area as compared to reports on the Huaihe River, China [ 46 ]. The total sum of OCPs showed a higher range than values in Lake Qarun, Egypt [ 47 ], the Rivers in middle Denube, of Serbia [ 44 ] and in Soan River, Pakistan [ 43 ]. The sediments from Awash River Basin were found to be less contaminated with PBDEs compared with reports from Zhujiang River of China [ 48 ], Cinca River of Spain [ 49 ] and Niagara River, North America [ 50 ].…”

Emerging and Persistent Pollutants in the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Lower Danube Basin and North West Black Sea Region—A Review

“…No comparisons can be made neither for the values of Σ16PAHs or Σ6PCBs in Danube River sediment. Škrbić 's et al study reported values includes tributary, where larger amounts of pollutants are usually found [95], while Radu's et al study does not [84]. In terms of PCBs, Brborić et al reported the sum of seven PCB congeners [94] while Radu et al reported only 6six of them [84].…”

Spatial distribution of multielements including lanthanides in sediments of Iron Gate I Reservoir in the Danube River

“…The pollution of the second longest European river (the River Danube) has been under monitoring and focused on emerging contaminants including metals/metalloids (Hg, As, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Cd), personal care products, technical additives, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, steroids, and perfluorinated compounds (Milenković et al 2005 ; Škrbić et al 2018 ; Vuković et al 2012 ; Ivanović et al 2016 ; Comero et al 2014 ; Reschke et al 2002 ; Matić Bujagić et al 2019 ). The biggest hydropower dam and reservoir system along the Danube River is Iron Gate I on Đerdap Gorge, 117 km long.…”