Semivolatile organic compounds in water, suspended particulate matter, sediments and biota in the Danube

During the Second Joint Danube Survey (JDS 2) in autumn 2007 water, sediment and mussel samples were collected from 23 sites covering the River Danube and important tributaries from Germany until the Black Sea. The compound classes investigated were polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and –furans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results revealed good chemical status of the water column as defined in the Water Framework Directive for all investigated compounds except the ∑Benzo (g,h,i) Perylene and Indeno (1,2,3-cd) Pyrene, where the concentrations at most sites were close to the Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) of 2 ng/L. In 5 sites the EQS was slightly exceeded, with a maximum concentration 3.1 ng/L close to Bratislava. OCPs in water were orders of magnitude below the EQS except for HCH that reached levels up to 25% of the EQS in the lower Danube. Maximum PBDE concentration in water was at 20 % of the EQS. The longitudinal concentration profiles in water and sediment suggests DDT, HCH, and to a lower extent Chlordane and Heptachlor releases into the lower Danube originating from sources left hand side including the catchments of the tributaries Arges, Siret and Prut. PBDEs showed a maximum in the middle stretch impacted from releases from the right hand side of the catchment with its important tributaries Drava, Sava and Velica Morava. Concentrations in the investigated compartments were generally at the lower end of the concentration ranges typically found in European freshwaters.

UMLAUF Gunther;  CHRISTOPH E.H.;  HUBER Tania;  MARIANI Giulio;  MUELLER Anne;  SKEJO Helle;  WOLLGAST Jan; 

2016-01-21

Springer Verlag

JRC70721

978-3-662-47738-0,    978-3-662-47739-7,   

1867-979X,   

http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F698_2014_317,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC70721,   

10.1007/698_2014_317,