Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in water and sediment from Volturno River, Southern Italy: occurrence, distribution and risk assessment

Background To assess the Volturno River pollution and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) caused by Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 32 PCBs and aldrin, α-BHC, β-BHC, δ-BHC, γ-BHC (lindane), 4,4′- DDD, 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulphate, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide (isomer B) and methoxychlor have been selected and were analyzed in three different phases: dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments. PCBs and OCPs were extracted using an SPE column for the DP and glass fiber filter for SPM and sediment samples. Cleaned extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (ECD) and mass spectrometry (MS) detector for PCBs and OCPs, respectively. Results Pollutants discharges of PCBs and OCPs into the sea were calculated in about 106.9 kg year −1 (87.1 kg year −1 of PCBs and 19.7 kg year −1 of OCPs), showing that this river could be a major source of PCBs and OCPs pollution to the Central Mediterranean Sea. Total concentrations of PCBs ranged from 4.1 to 48.0 ng L −1 in water (sum of DP and SPM) and from 4.3 to 64.3 ng g −1 in sediment samples. The concentrations of total organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) obtained in water (sum of DP and SPM) ranged from 0.93 to 8.66 ng L −1 and from 0.52 to 9.89 ng g −1 in sediment samples. Principal component analysis shows that all PCB compounds are more likely to come from surface runoff than an atmospheric deposition. Conclusion The data show that higher levels of PCBs and OCPs were found in sediment samples than in DP and SPM samples, which are an indication of no fresh inputs of these compounds. Based on our results, unintentionally produced PCBs by industrial processes (and other processes) were considered to be the main sources of PCBs in Volturno River and Estuary sediments. Considering the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs), the Ecological Risk Index (ERI), the Risk Quotient (RQ) and the USEPA Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), the Volturno River and its Estuary would be considered an area in which the integrity is possibly at risk.