Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in water and sediment from Volturno River, Southern Italy: occurrence, distribution and risk assessment

Antonio Nardone,Fabiana Di Duca,Maria Triassi,Donatella Paola Provvisiero,Paolo Montuori,Elvira De Rosa,Pasquale Sarnacchiaro

doi:10.1186/s12302-020-00408-4

Abstract

BackgroundTo assess the Volturno River pollution and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) caused by Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 32 PCBs and aldrin, α-BHC, β-BHC, δ-BHC, γ-BHC (lindane), 4,4′- DDD, 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulphate, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide (isomer B) and methoxychlor have been selected and were analyzed in three different phases: dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments. PCBs and OCPs were extracted using an SPE column for the DP and glass fiber filter for SPM and sediment samples. Cleaned extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (ECD) and mass spectrometry (MS) detector for PCBs and OCPs, respectively.ResultsPollutants discharges of PCBs and OCPs into the sea were calculated in about 106.9 kg year−1 (87.1 kg year−1 of PCBs and 19.7 kg year−1 of OCPs), showing that this river could be a major source of PCBs and OCPs pollution to the Central Mediterranean Sea. Total concentrations of PCBs ranged from 4.1 to 48.0 ng L−1 in water (sum of DP and SPM) and from 4.3 to 64.3 ng g−1 in sediment samples. The concentrations of total organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) obtained in water (sum of DP and SPM) ranged from 0.93 to 8.66 ng L−1 and from 0.52 to 9.89 ng g−1 in sediment samples. Principal component analysis shows that all PCB compounds are more likely to come from surface runoff than an atmospheric deposition.ConclusionThe data show that higher levels of PCBs and OCPs were found in sediment samples than in DP and SPM samples, which are an indication of no fresh inputs of these compounds. Based on our results, unintentionally produced PCBs by industrial processes (and other processes) were considered to be the main sources of PCBs in Volturno River and Estuary sediments. Considering the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs), the Ecological Risk Index (ERI), the Risk Quotient (RQ) and the USEPA Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), the Volturno River and its Estuary would be considered an area in which the integrity is possibly at risk.

Highlights

To assess the Volturno River pollution and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) caused by Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 32 PCBs and aldrin, α-BHC, β-BHC, δ-BHC, γ-BHC, 4,4′- DDD, 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulphate, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide and methoxychlor have been selected and were analyzed in three different phases: dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments
PCBs most abundant in almost all sampling sites were tetra, penta, and hexa-CB accounting for 33, 31, 19% of ΣPCBs in SPMs, probably because higher chlorinated PCBs are mainly adsorbed by the particulate matter due to their low hydrophilic properties, the proportion of hepta-CBs increased to 8.02% compared to DP (Fig. 2a)
The concentrations of cyclodienes in DP, SPM and sediment samples showed a decreasing trend from sediments to SPMs and DPs (cyclodienesSPM/cyclodienesSediment and cyclodienesDP/cyclodienesSediment ratio mean values of 0.55 and 3.48, respectively). These results showed that higher levels of OCPs were found in sediment samples than in DP and SPM samples (Fig. 4), which were an indication of no fresh inputs of these pesticides in the Volturno

Summary

Introduction

To assess the Volturno River pollution and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) caused by Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 32 PCBs and aldrin, α-BHC, β-BHC, δ-BHC, γ-BHC (lindane), 4,4′- DDD, 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulphate, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide (isomer B) and methoxychlor have been selected and were analyzed in three different phases: dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments. The Volturno River is the most relevant watercourse in Southern Italy because of its length and its water flow It rises in the Abruzzese Apennines near Alfedena and flows southeast as far as its junction with the Calore River near Caiazzo. The area surrounding the Volturno River, has been called “Campania Felix” This name refers to a land full of culture and traditions, with a mild climate and fertile soil thanks to the presence of some rivers. Illegal disposal of toxic waste caused a trend reversal and this area has renamed as “Land of Fire” (Fig. 1) This name is due to the presence of numerous illegal landfills along the roads and in the open countryside. The manuscripts mentioned and the interest of the media have created important issues due to the high amount of pollutants generated by the illegal combustion and percolation of liquid waste through the soil, which can contaminate all environmental compartments: air, water and soil eventually entering the trophic chain and affecting animal and vegetables [8]

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