Status of persistent organic pollutants in the sediment from several estuaries in China

Sediment samples from three estuaries on the east coast of China were analy zed for persistent organic pollutants. Total PCB, PAH, and DDT concentratio ns in the sediments from Minjiang, Jiulongjiang, and Zhujiang estuaries ran ged from 2 to 14 ng/g, 400 to 1500 ng/g, and 6 to 73 ng/g, respectively, in the sediments from these estuaries. The sources of PAH contamination were inferred from PAH compositions, with pyrogenic PAHs being the dominant sour ce for Minjiang Estuary and petroleum related PAHs being the primary contri butors to Jiulongjiang and Zhujiang estuaries. The high concentrations of D DT in the sediments from these estuaries were likely the result of widespre ad use of DDT in China in the 1960s and 1970s. Butyltin compounds were dete cted in the sediment from Jiulongjiang Estuary and Victoria Harbor, Hong Ko ng. Presence of butyltin compounds probably result from the shipping activi ties in these estuaries. Butyltin compounds were not detected in the sedime nts from Minjiang and Zhujiang estuaries. Contaminant concentrations were g enerally below levels expected to affect benthic organisms with the excepti on of DDTs. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.