Persistent toxic substances in remote lake and coastal sediments from Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic: Levels, sources and fluxes

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 157; no. 4; pp. 1342 - 1351
• Main Authors: Jiao, Liping, Zheng, Gene J., Minh, Tu Binh, Richardson, Bruce, Chen, Liqi, Zhang, Yuanhui, Yeung, Leo W., Lam, James C.W., Yang, Xulin, Lam, Paul K.S., Wong, Ming H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accumulation patterns; Applied sciences; Arctic Regions; coastal water; Diethylstilbestrol - analogs & derivatives; Diethylstilbestrol - analysis; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecotoxicology - methods; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Enviromental Science; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Fluxes; Fresh Water; Freshwater; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis; lakes; Miljövetenskap; Norway; organochlorine pesticides; PAHs; PBDEs; pollutants; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; reference standards; Remote lake sediments; risk assessment; Seawater; sediment contamination; Soil and sediments pollution; Time Factors; toxic substances; Norway; Arctic region; Svalbard; Arctic Region; Norway, Svalbard; PN, Arctic; Europe; PNE, Norway, Svalbard; Remote lake sediments; PAHs; Fluxes; Accumulation patterns; PBDEs; Marine sediments; Coastal zone; Persistent organic pollutant; Organochlorine compounds; Chlorocarbon; Aromatic compound; Polar region; Organic compounds; Anthropogenic factor; Atmospheric fallout; Ether; Hydrocarbon; Pesticides; Polychlorobiphenyls; Flame retardant; Organic bromine compounds; Lake sediments; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Low volatile compound; Organic chlorine compounds; Surface water; Pollution source inventory; Lakes; Water pollution; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.11.030

Surface sediments from remote lakes and coastal areas from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Relatively high levels of PAHs were encountered from several lakes from Ny-Ålesund, which were within the range of levels reported for European high mountain lakes and some urban/industrialized areas in the world, pointing to the role of remote Arctic lakes as potential reservoir of semi-volatile organic compounds. Specific patterns of PBDEs were observed, showing higher concentrations of lower brominated compounds such as BDE-7, 17 and 28. Estimated surface sediment fluxes of PAHs in Ny-Ålesund remote lakes were similar to those observed for some European high mountain lakes. The current PAH levels in sediments from three lakes exceeded Canadian sediment quality guidelines, suggesting the presence of possible risks for aquatic organisms and the need for further studies. High levels of PAHs and specific patterns of PBDEs were found in sediments from the remote Norwegian Arctic lakes.