B. Jansson

Analysis of some polyhalogenated organic pollutants in sediment and sewage sludge

Abstract A laminated sediment core collected in the southern part of the Baltic Proper was analysed for DDT compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) including the coplanar congeners, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN). Two sewage sludge samples were also analysed for the same compounds. The results of the sediment analyses indicate the presence of PCB, DDT and PBDE compounds in sediment layers dating from the 1950s and later. Neither coplanar PCB nor PCN were detected at any level of the sediment core. The PCB concentrations indicate a slight increase in levels during the last decades, while there were no changes in the levels of DDT compounds. In contrast, TeBDE levels increase 4- to 8-fold and one PeBDE congeners levels increase 10- to 20-fold. The results of sewage sludge analyses showed the concentration of the individual PBDE to be at about the same level as for the individual PCB congeners. The congener pattern in sludge samples indicates low-chlorinated products to be the main PCN source.

Isolation of mono- and non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls from biological samples by electron-donor acceptor high performance liquid chromatography using a 2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyldimethylsilylated silica column

Abstract A method for the analysis of both mono- and non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in biological tissue samples is described. The method includes solvent extraction, sulfuric acid/n-hexane partitioning, gel permeation chromatography and finally electron-donor acceptor high performance liquid chromatography using a 2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyldimethylsilylated silica column (PYE column). The PYE column separates PCBs according to the number of chlorine atoms in the ortho positions. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and GC/electron capture detection (GC/ECD) were used to analyze the non- and the mono-ortho PCB fractions, respectively. The method was found to give high recoveries and a low degree of discrimination between different PCB congeners.

Multiresidue method for the gas-chromatographic analysis of some polychlorinated and polybrominated pollutants in biological samples

SummaryA multiresidue method for the analysis of a number of chlorinated and brominated organic compounds in biological samples has been developed. The method includes gas-chromatographic analysis of hexachlorinated and hexabrominated benzenes (HCB and HBB), polychlorinated and polybrominated biphenyls (PCB and PBB), polychlorinated phenols (PCP), guaiacols (PCG), paraffins (CP) and naphthalenes (PCN), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and the pesticides DDT, polychlorinated terpenes (PCC or toxaphene), chlordanes, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), aldrin and dieldrin. The use of charcoal column in the clean-up procedure makes it also possible to analyze the planar PCB congeners (pPCB). Cod muscle samples were spiked with 10 and 50 times the detection levels of the compounds to be analyzed. The mean recoveries, relative to internal standards, for 40 compounds or compound groups were between 51 and 120%.

Analysis of non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated naphthalenes in Swedish dioxin survey samples

Abstract The coplanar (non-ortho) polychlorinated biphenyls (pPCB) 3,3′4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC 77), 3,3′4,4′5-pentachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC 126), 3,3′4,4′5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC 169) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN) were analyzed in biological and sediment samples. The predominant congeners found in biological samples were IUPAC 77, IUPAC 126, two early eluting pentachloronaphthalenes and one early eluting hexachloronaphthalene. Baltic herring show seasonal differences in pPCB and PCN levels. The lipid weight levels in cod muscle and liver are very similar despite differences in fat content. Pike and sediment from a PCB-contaminated river contain very high levels of pPCB and PCN but have PCDD/F levels that are not unusually high. There are differences in the levels and isomer pattern between the sediment and pike indicating metabolism and bioaccumulation. There is a significant correlation between total and planar PCB content in herring and cod samples. The toxic potential of pPCB in most of the fish samples expressed as TCDD toxic equivalents more than equals that of PCDD/F.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzo-furans (PCDF) in seal blubber

Abstract Blubber samples from seals collected in waters around the Scandinavian peninsula and from the Antarctic have been analyzed for the presence of PCDD and PCDF. The results do not indicate any substantial species or spatial differences in levels for animals representing the northern hemisphere but lower levels were found in the samples collected in the Antarctic. Among marine mammals highly persistent organochlorines normally increase with increasing age. In our study no clear age or sex dependence in levels of PCDD and PCDF was found. The levels of PCDD and PCDF in seal blubber are of the same magnitude as the levels found in humans.

Selective retention of non-ortho substituted coplanar chlorinated biphenyl congeners on adsorbents for column chromatography

Abstract By adsorption chromatography on basic alumina, the non-ortho substituted coplanar chlorinated biphenyl (CB) congeners CB-37, CB-81, CB-77, CB-126, and CB-169 were found to be selectively retained when a mixture of 34 CB congeners was eluted by n-hexane. CB-77, CB-126 and 169 show dioxin-like biological activity/toxicity, and are the most toxic CB congeners. The less toxic monortho and di-ortho substituted coplanar CB congeners were not retained to the same degree. On acidic and neutral alumina, the elution patterns were similar to the patterns observed on basic alumina. Florisil did also show elution patterns similar to the basic alumina, while silica was found to be nonselective. The mechanism of retention of non-ortho substituted CB congeners on alumina is discussed.

Biotransformation enzyme activities and PCDD/PCDF levels in pike caught in a Swedish Lake

Abstract Recently, analysis of organochlorines in sediment and in pike from Lake Vanern, Sweden, showed a north-south gradient of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). In the present study, good correlations were found between muscle 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalents and liver ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities (and P4501A levels) in pike caught at three sampling sites along the north-south gradient in the lake. This comparison between tissue levels of PCDD/PCDF and EROD activity (and P4501A) may indicate that TCDD or structural analogs could be responsible for the observed induction of the pike P450 system. It must, however, be taken into account that the analysed contaminants often do not appear alone but are, rather, accompanied by a range of other substances which may be inducers or antagonists.

Results from the first year of the Swedish dioxin survey

Abstract PCDD/F levels are presented for food baskets, raw and fried herring, wolf muscle and moose tallow collected from the same area, three burbot liver samples, a sediment core from the Baltic Sea and leach water from three garbage dumps. Levels in food baskets were at or below detection limits making the estimation of intake via the diet difficult. Frying herring produces no net change in PCDD/F levels. Moose have lower PCDD/F levels than wolf from the same area. Levels in burbot liver samples are much higher near industrial discharges than in a more undisturbed area. The top 4 cm of the sediment core contain the highest levels of PCDD/F. Thereafter the levels drop and reach a low level. This low level is probably caused by contamination during sampling and is not evidence of PCDD/F presence far back in time. Leach water from city dumps contains low levels of PCDD/F but that from a dump that takes industrial wastes had higher levels and a different congener pattern.

Levels and possible sources of PCDD/PCDF in sediment and pike samples from Swedish lakes and rivers. (Part one)

Abstract One goal of the Swedish survey project is to discover possible sources of PCDD/F. Bottom sediment and pike were sampled at various sites near different types of industries along the coast line of two lakes and one river. The results show background levels of PCDD/F in some lakes which can only be explained by atmospheric input. In some lakes paper mill emissions of chlorinated PCDD/F give high levels of local contamination (≈1 ng/g IG) within short distances (

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran levels and patterns in fish and fish-eating wildlife in the Baltic Sea

Abstract PCDD/F patterns in different fish species collected at the same site are different from each other indicating species differences in bioaccumulation. There are higher levels of specific congeners in older/larger herring caught at the same site. There are geographical differences in PCDD/F levels and patterns in herring, pike and burbot which may be linked to specific point sources of PCDD/F. PCDD/F levels are much higher in fish-eating birds than in their major fish prey indicating biomagnification. PCDD/F levels in seals, however, do not indicate biomagnification. Levels of PCDD/F in homogenates of guillemot eggs collected at five-year intervals (1974, 1979, 1984, 1989) indicate a possible reduction in environmental PCDD/F levels during the 1980s.