Polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alkylphenols in sediments from the Odra River and its tributaries, Poland

Abstract

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) were measured in sediments collected during June–August 1998 along the Odra River and its tributaries (Warta, Obrzyca, Barycz, Kaczawa and Bóbr Rivers) in Poland. In addition, raw and treated sewage sludge collected from Gdańsk, Poland, were analyzed for the target compounds. Concentrations of PCBs in sediments varied widely, ranging from 2.7 to 412 ng/g, on a dry weight basis (dry wt). PAHs were the predominant compounds in sediments with concentrations ranging from 150 to 19 000 ng/g, dry wt. The distribution of concentrations of PAHs was more homogenous than that of PCBs. NP concentrations in sediments ranged from <1 to 762 ng/g, while that of OP from <1 to 9.8 ng/g, dry wt. Measured concentrations of target analytes in sediments of the Odra River and its tributaries were comparable to or greater than those reported for riverine sediments in other eastern European countries. Concentrations of total PCBs, PAHs and NP in raw and treated sewage sludge collected from a sewage treatment plant in Gdańsk, Poland, were in the ranges of 203–284, 11 720–13 880 and 6760–99 600 ng/g, dry wt, respectively. Primary treatment of sewage did not appear to reduce PCB or PAH concentrations, although NP and OP concentrations were much less in treated sludge than in raw sludge. This is one of a few studies that document concentrations of PCBs, PAHs and NP in sediments of the Odra River and its tributaries in Poland.