The Impact of Groyne Fields on Downstream Particle-Bound Dioxin Concentrations in the Elbe River (Germany)

Sediment concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) in sections of the Elbe River basin significantly exceed background concentrations and contribute to fish tissue concentrations that regularly exceed maximum allowable concentrations established by the European Commission. Multivariate statistical analyses of PCDD/PCDF congener patterns suggest that the source of this contamination is effluent from thermic processes related to the metallurgical industry (e.g. magnesium production) in the Bitterfeld-Wolfen region, which were released into the Mulde River, a tributary to the Elbe River. A minimum of 72 % of the total sediment PCDD/PCDF concentration measured in Hamburg originates in the Mulde River catchment. While the contribution of the Bitterfeld-Wolfen region to Hamburg dioxin concentrations is well understood, the role of the groynes fields in retaining particle-bound contaminants had yet to be evaluated. Of particular interest is the effect of groynes on travel time of particle-bound contaminants from Mulde River basin to Hamburg. This temporal information is crucial to evaluating the benefits of potential sediment remediation in the Mulde River. To better understand the fate and transport of cohesive sediments and associated dioxin, a hydrodynamic and cohesive sediment model for the German segment of the Elbe River was developed. Integration of modeling output with the results of recently collected (2008) sediment and suspended sediment dioxin data enabled an enhanced understanding of the dynamics of dioxin and cohesive sediment in the Elbe River basin.

HEISE Susanne;  CALMANO Wolfgang;  STACHEL Burkhard;  GOETZ Rainer;  UMLAUF Gunther;  MARIANI Giulio; 

MOSHENBERG Kari; 

2010-02-12

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

JRC55421

1087-8939,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC55421,