Document Type
Journal Article
Department/Unit
Department of Biology
Title
Distribution and source apportionments of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in mariculture sediments from the Pearl River Delta, South China
Language
English
Abstract
Surface and core sediments collected from six mariculture farms in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) were analyzed to evaluate contamination levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The ∑PCBs (37 congeners) concentrations ranged from 5.10 to 11.0ngg-1 (mean 7.96ngg-1) in surface and 3.19 to 22.1ngg-1 (mean 7.75ngg-1) in core sediments, respectively. The concentrations were significantly higher than that measured in the sediments of their corresponding reference sites, whereby the average enrichment percentages were 62.0% and 42.7% in surface and core sediments, respectively. Significant correlations (R2=0.77, p<0.05) of PCB homologue group proportions between fish feeds and surface mariculture sediments suggested that fish feed input was probably the main source for the enrichment of PCBs. Due to the fact that PCBs could be transferred along food chains, PCB contamination in fish feeds and mariculture sediments should not be overlooked. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords
Enrichment percentage, Fish feed, Mariculture, PCBs
Publication Date
2011
Source Publication Title
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
63
Issue
12-5
Start Page
516
End Page
522
Publisher
Elsevier
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.02.009
Link to Publisher's Edition
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.02.009
ISSN (print)
0025326X
ISSN (electronic)
18793363
APA Citation
Wang, H., Du, J., Leung, H., Oi Wah Leung, A., Liang, P., Giesy, J., Wong, C., & Wong, M. (2011). Distribution and source apportionments of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in mariculture sediments from the Pearl River Delta, South China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 63 (12-5), 516-522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.02.009