Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
Volume 27, Issue 16, Pages 20000-20013Publisher
SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08179-4
Keywords
Persistence organic pollutants; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Heavy metals; Sediment pollution; Risks; Atlantic Coast; Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Funding
- Swiss National Science Foundation [31003A_173281/1]
- Academy of Research and Higher Education of Wallonia-Brussels (ARES)
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) [31003A_173281] Funding Source: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
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The pollution assessment and the evaluation of potential risks in the Atlantic Coastal Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are still very limited. Consequently, the present study investigates for the first time the concentrations of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) in river, estuary, and marine sediments from this area. The results highlighted high concentrations of Cr, Zn, As, and Pb exceeding the probable effect level (PEL) on aquatic life. Zn was the most dominant element detected at a range of 180-480 mg kg(-1) in marine sediment, 132-382 mg kg(-1) in estuary sediment, and 121-687 mg kg(-1) in river sediment. Total PCBs ( n-ary sumation 7 x 4.3) ranged from 1995 to 20,156 mu g kg(-1), 2013-12,058 mu g kg(-1), and 1861-36,417 mu g kg(-1) in marine, estuary, and river sediments, respectively. Total PCBs ( n-ary sumation 7 x 4.3) were above PEL for all sediments, suggesting potential adverse effects on benthic organisms. The OCP, PBDE, and PAH levels were low to moderate for all sediments. Taking into consideration, the concentrations of Zn, Pb, PCBs, and DDTs, probable environmental risks, are present.
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