The Environmental Significance of Sediment Surface Area as a Controlling Factor in the Preservation of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) in Sediments Adjacent to Woodfibre Pulp Mill, Howe Sound, British Columbia

Gareth Chalmers,Amanda Bustin,Rupert Adams,Marc Bustin

doi:10.3390/min9110711

Abstract

A sediment core was retrieved from an area adjacent to a Pulp and Paper Mill in Howe Sound, British Columbia, in order to examine the accumulation dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs). Downcore distribution of TOC in the bulk samples is relatively uniform (0.5–1.7 wt. %). Bulk PCDD/F concentration shows selective enrichment and depletion at specific sediment horizons, and a low to moderate correlation with surface area (r2 = 0.23–0.54). TOC in size fractionated sediments ranges from 0.3–11 wt. % and shows a moderate correlation with surface area (r2 = 0.51). The relationship between PCDD/Fs and surface area is congener specific, ranging from no significant correlation (TCDD; r2 = 0.05), to a good correlation (i.e., OCDF; r2 = 0.74). Results indicate that both dioxin and furan concentrations are related to organic matter concentration, molecular chlorination and sediment surface area.

Highlights

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are serious threats to the environment due to their ubiquitous nature, toxicity and strong resistance to biodegradation [1,2,3]
This research has investigated the distribution of organochlorine compounds in organic rich marine sediment in Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada to understand how the characteristics on the sediment influence the preservation of these toxins
Total organic carbon (Corg ) concentrations range from 0.5–1.7 wt. % and total nitrogen (TN) ranges between

Summary

Introduction

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are serious threats to the environment due to their ubiquitous nature, toxicity and strong resistance to biodegradation [1,2,3]. It is known that these compounds have a strong affinity for sediment particles, ab/adsorption onto high surface area sediments like organic rich particulates [4,5], making coastal sediments an ideal repository. It considered probable that surface area adsorption may be responsible for the preservation and distribution of organochlorine compounds in marine sediments [16]. This research has investigated the distribution of organochlorine compounds in organic rich marine sediment in Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada to understand how the characteristics on the sediment influence the preservation of these toxins

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