<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Combustion processes are considered to be the main source of the dioxin emission in the Baltic region. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its derivatives, pentachlorophenyl laurate (PCPL) and sodium pentachlorophenate (NaPCP) are known as precursors of dioxins. The research was conducted to obtain the first data on the concentration of PCDD/Fs and PCP in the bottom sediments of the Port of Gdansk. Toxicity (the Microtox® test) as well as several sediment parameters have been examined.
In the surface layer of bottom sediments from the Port of Gdansk, all congeners of PCDD/Fs have been detected using GC-MS/MS. The highest concentration was obtained for OCDD (224.0–271.0 pg g−1 d.w.) and HpCDD (51.0–36.0 pg g−1 d.w.). The content of ΣPCDDs prevailed over ΣPCDFs. This may indicate that anthropogenic pollution from the land-based thermal sources has the strongest impact on the concentration of dioxins in the port sediments. The concentration of 17 dioxin congeners (WHO-TEQ) did not exceed the probable effect level (PEL) of 21.5 pg TEQ g−1 d.w. The concentration of PCP ranged from bellow the LOD (&lt; 0.85 ng g−1 d.w.) to 12.4 ng g−1 d.w.
The positive correlation between toxicity and physico-chemical properties of the analyzed bottom sediments confirms that these parameters are important in terms of environment contamination.
</abstract>

Combustion processes are considered to be the main source of the dioxin emission in the Baltic region. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its derivatives, pentachlorophenyl laurate (PCPL) and sodium pentachlorophenate (NaPCP) are known as precursors of dioxins. The research was conducted to obtain the first data on the concentration of PCDD/Fs and PCP in the bottom sediments of the Port of Gdansk. Toxicity (the Microtox® test) as well as several sediment parameters have been examined.
In the surface layer of bottom sediments from the Port of Gdansk, all congeners of PCDD/Fs have been detected using GC-MS/MS. The highest concentration was obtained for OCDD (224.0–271.0 pg g−1 d.w.) and HpCDD (51.0–36.0 pg g−1 d.w.). The content of ΣPCDDs prevailed over ΣPCDFs. This may indicate that anthropogenic pollution from the land-based thermal sources has the strongest impact on the concentration of dioxins in the port sediments. The concentration of 17 dioxin congeners (WHO-TEQ) did not exceed the probable effect level (PEL) of 21.5 pg TEQ g−1 d.w. The concentration of PCP ranged from bellow the LOD (< 0.85 ng g−1 d.w.) to 12.4 ng g−1 d.w.
The positive correlation between toxicity and physico-chemical properties of the analyzed bottom sediments confirms that these parameters are important in terms of environment contamination.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in bottom sediments of the Port of Gdansk

Department of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Oceanography

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Combustion processes are considered to be the main source of the dioxin emission in the Baltic region. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its derivatives,...

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in bottom sediments of the Port of Gdansk

Published Online: Oct 29, 2014

Page range: 312 - 323

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13545-014-0146-7

Keywords
Port of Gdansk, bottom sediments, organochlorine contaminants, profile of the dioxin congeners, toxicity, Microtox®

© 2014 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in bottom sediments of the Port of Gdansk

Published Online: Oct 29, 2014

Page range: 312 - 323

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13545-014-0146-7

KeywordsPort of Gdansk, bottom sediments, organochlorine contaminants, profile of the dioxin congeners, toxicity, Microtox®

© 2014 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Port of Gdansk, bottom sediments, organochlorine contaminants, profile of the dioxin congeners, toxicity, Microtox®