Factors determining contamination and time trends in cyclic and linear siloxanes in sediments from an industrialized lake in Korea

Abstract

Siloxanes, widely used in various consumer and industrial products, are emerging concerns of contaminants. Despite this, limited studies have been conducted on contamination and time trends on siloxanes in coastal environments. In the present study, four cyclic and 15 linear siloxanes were measured in sediments collected from an artificial saltwater lake in Korea during 2001–2016 to investigate contamination, time trends, and ecotoxicological concerns. Cyclic siloxanes were detected in all sediment samples, whereas linear siloxanes were not frequently detected. The highest siloxane concentrations were observed in creeks passing through various industrial complexes, indicating that industrial activities predominantly contributed to siloxane contamination in coastal environments. Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) and dodecylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) were predominant siloxanes in sediments over the last two decades. Siloxane concentrations significantly increased in creek sediments from 2008 to 2016, whereas those in inshore and offshore regions significantly decreased due to a strong dilution effect by the operation of tidal power plant. This suggests that consumption patterns and coastal development activities are crucial factors determining the contamination and time trends in the sedimentary siloxanes. The sedimentary concentrations of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and D5 exceeded several thresholds, raising the potentials for ecological risks to aquatic organisms.