Assessing the relationship and influence of black carbon on distribution status of organochlorines in the coastal sediments from Pakistan

Environ Pollut. 2014 Jul:190:82-90. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.03.024. Epub 2014 Apr 15.

Abstract

Levels of total organic carbon (TOC) and black carbon (BC) were determined together with those of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the selected eighteen coastal sites (n = 285) along the Arabian Sea from Pakistan. Results showed that the total concentration of TOC, BC, ∑OCPs and ∑26PCBs ranged between 0.3 and 2.9% dw, 0.1-0.2% dw, 0.9-110 ng g(-1) dw and 6.2-1200 ng g(-1) dw, respectively. Correlation analysis of BC (r = 0.26-0.89) and TOC (r = 0.06-0.69) revealed a stronger association with studied compounds. The sedimentary depositional fluxes (D) for ∑OCPs and ∑26PCBs were calculated as 1.7 and 4.9 tons yr(-1), respectively. In the coastal belt of Pakistan, sedimentary mass inventories (I) indicated the presence of 13 and 37 metric tons of ∑OCPs and ∑26PCBs, respectively.

Keywords: Black carbon; Coastal sediments; Distribution status; Mass inventories; Organochlorines; Pakistan.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / analysis*
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / chemistry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Pakistan
  • Pesticides / analysis
  • Pesticides / chemistry
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / chemistry
  • Soot / analysis*
  • Soot / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
  • Pesticides
  • Soot
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls