Integrated Assessment of PAH Contamination in the Czech Rivers Using a Combination of Chemical and Biological Monitoring

Jana Blahova,Lenka Divisova,Zdenka Svobodova,Samuel Mach,Drahomira Leontovycova,Tomas Ocelka,Vit Kodes

doi:10.1155/2014/918097

Abstract

This study investigated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) pollution of selected rivers in the Czech Republic. Integrated evaluation was carried out using combination of chemical and biological monitoring, in which we measured content of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in chub bile and priority PAH in water samples obtained by exposing the semipermeable membrane devices at each location. The concentrations of 1-OHP in bile samples and sum of priority PAH in water sampler ranged from 6.8 ng mg protein−1 to 106.6 ng mg protein−1 and from 5.2 ng L−1 to 173.9 ng L−1, respectively. The highest levels of biliary metabolite and PAH in water were measured at the Odra River (the Bohumín site), which is located in relatively heavily industrialized and polluted region. Statistically significant positive correlation between biliary 1-OHP and sum of PAH in water was also obtained (P < 0.01, r s = 0.806).

Highlights

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are a large group of important environmental organic pollutants which occur ubiquitously and are typically more concentrated near urban center and their concentrations correlate with shipping traffic or combustion of fossil fuel
The obtained results of biliary metabolite were correlated with the levels of priority PAH in abiotic matrix
The results of the presented study indicate that the use of 1-OHP as biomarker in fish is useful tool for monitoring of PAH contamination in the aquatic ecosystem

Summary

Introduction

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are a large group of important environmental organic pollutants which occur ubiquitously and are typically more concentrated near urban center and their concentrations correlate with shipping traffic or combustion of fossil fuel. Because of their mutagenic and/or procarcinogenic properties to human and animals they are routinely monitored in different matrices (air, water, sediment, animal tissues, etc.) [1]. The monitoring of sum of these priority pollutants is often used for assessment of PAH occurrence in the ecosystem [2]. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons entering aquatic environment, due to their hydrophobicity, rapidly become associated with suspended particles and sediment. Sorption and retention capacity depends on physicochemical properties of sediment and suspended particles such as grain size or content of organic matter [1]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion