Short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in sediments from the Laizhou Bay area, North China: Implications for transportation from rivers to marine environment

Abstract

The concentrations of short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) were measured for riverine and marine sediments from the Laizhou Bay area in order to investigate their spatial distributions, possible sources and transport behaviors. Concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs in riverine sediments varied from 8.4 to 2000 ng g−1 dw and from 1.8 to 3200 ng g−1 dw, respectively. Higher concentrations were found exclusively at industrial sites. Emissions from local factories were the main source of CPs in river sediments of this region. It was 5–22 ng g-1 dw and 6–63 ng g−1 dw with an average value of 11 ng g−1 dw and 9 ng g−1 dw for SCCPs and MCCPs in marine sediments of Laizhou Bay, respectively. In addition to riverine input, ship related emissions are suggested to be another important source of CPs in the Laizhou Bay. MCCPs/SCCPs values and compositional profiles of SCCPs were found to vary along with CP concentrations. A distinct shift to congener groups with shorter carbon chains and lower chlorination from emission sources to remote areas was noticed. The role of log octanol-water partition coefficient (LogKow) values indicated decisive in their transportation from emission sources to remote areas in the Laizhou Bay area.