Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in marine sediments directly exposed to wastewater from Cortiou, Marseille

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The future ‘Calanque National Park’ coastlines of the Bouches-du-Rhône and Var departments in France, constitute one of the ten biodiversity hot spots identified in the Mediterranean basin that receives industrial and urban wastewaters discharged from Marseille and its suburbs.

Materials and methods

Organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in sediments collected from 12 sampling sites (C1–C12) of sewage discharge to the sea from the wastewater treatment plant of Cortiou-Marseille. This study aims to determine the extent of these compounds in the sediments and to establish the possible sources of these contaminants.

Results and discussion

Total pesticides in the sediments ranged from 1.2 to 190.6 ng g-1 dry weight of sediment. The highest value was found at station C1, with a decreasing trend in total OC concentrations seaward. Among these compounds, the concentrations of the sum of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (∑DDT) were the highest, ranging from 0.7 to 114.3 ng g-1. PCB concentrations, expressed as equivalent to Arochlor 1260, varied from 9.1 to 226.9 ng g-1. Individually, the dominant coplanar PCB congeners CB-153, CB-138 and CB-101. Generally, PCB concentrations at stations C2, C3, C5 and C7 were higher than those at stations C10, C11 and C12. Through some pollution indices, we showed the long-term contamination input of these OCs (DDT, endosulfan, HCH and heptachlor cases) rather than a recent release resulting from degradation and long-term weathering (dieldrin, aldrin and methoxychlor cases). Occurrence of PCBs might be due to their resistance to degradation processes or/and chronic inputs.

Conclusions

By comparison with available sediment quality guideline (SQG) values, the environmental significance and toxicological implications of PCBs and OCs (i) reveal the probable adverse effects for the sediments from C1, C5, C6, C9 and (ii) confirm the adverse effect for marine biota and more particularly for benthic communities at C2–C4, C7 and C8.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aboucaya A, Verlaque R, Guyot I (2001) La conservation des plantes rares et menacées en France. In Gomez-Campo C (ed) Conservation de especies vegetales amenazadas en la region mediterrànea occidental. R Areces Edit 199–227

  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (2007) Toxicological profile for heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide (update). U.S. Department of Public Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA

    Google Scholar 

  • Alvarez Piñeiro ME, Lage Yusty MA, Simal Lozano J, Gonzalez-Barros CST (1996) PCB and PCT levels in cultivated and free-living mussels of galicia (North west Spain). Toxicol Environ Chem 55:31–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnoux A, Blanc A, Jorajuria A, Monod JL, Tatossian J (1980) Etat actuel de la pollution sur les fonds du secteur de Cortiou (Marseille). Vème Journées. Etudes Pollutions. C.I.E.S.M, Cagliari, pp 459–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakke T, Kallqvist T, Ruus A, Breedveld GD, Hylland K (2010) Development of sediment quality criteria in Norway. J Soils Sediment 10:172–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barakat AO, Kim M, Qian Y, Wade TL (2002) Organochlorine pesticides and PCB residues in sediments of Alexandria Harbour, Egypt. Mar Pollut Bull 44:1421–1434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellemin-Guyot C (1982) Bilan de la pollution par les Polychlorobiphényles du milieu Littoral de la région Marseille et des fonds de la Méditerranée occidentale. Thèse de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille II, pp 1–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardellicchio N, Buccolieri A, Giandomenico S, Lopez L, Pizzulli F, Spada L (2007) Organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs) in sediments from the Mar Piccolo in Taranto (Ionian sea, Southerne Italy). Mar Pollut Bull 55:451–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho FP, Villeneuve JP, Cattini C, Rendón J, Mota de Oliveira J (2009) Pesticide and PCB residues in the aquatic ecosystems of Laguna de Terminos, a protected area of the coast of Campeche, Mexico. Chemosphere 74:988–995

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chevreuil M, Blanchard M, Teil MJ, Chesterikoff A (1998) Polychlorobiphenyl behaviour in the water/sediment system of the Seine River, France. Water Res 32:1204–1212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu TC, Yen JH, Hsieh YN, Wang YS (2005) Reductive transformation of dieldrin under anaerobic sediment culture. Chemosphere 60:1182–1189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Covaci A, Gheorghe A, Voorspoels S, Maervoet J (2005) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in sediment cores from the Western Scheldt River (Belgium): analytical and depth profiles. Environ Int 31:367–375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dierking J, Wafo E, Schembri T, Lagadec V, Nicolas C, Letourneur Y, Harmelin-Vivien M (2009) Spatial patterns in PCBs, pesticides, mercury and cadmium in the common sole in the NW Mediterranean Sea, and a novel use of contaminants as biomarkers. Mar Pollut Bull 58:1605–1614

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duinker JC, Schultz DE, Petrick G (1988) Selection of chlorinated biphenyl congeners for analysis in environmental samples. Mar Pollut Bull 19:19–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Kady AA, Abdel-Wahhab MA, Henkelmann B, Belal MH, Morsi MKS, Galal SM, Schramm KW (2007) Polychlorinated biphenyl, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran residues in sediments and fish of the River Nile in the Cairo region. Chemosphere 68:1660–1668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EPA (2002) Reregistration eligibility decision for endosulfan. EPA 738-R-02-013. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • European Regulation 850/2004/EC (2004) Council Directive of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants and amending Directive 79/117/EEC (850/2004/EC). Off J Eur Union L158:7–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng H, Cochran JK, Lwiza H, Brownawell BJ, Hirschberg DJ (1997) Distribution of Heavy Metal and PCB Contaminants in the sediments of an Urban Estuary: The Hudson River. Mar Environ Res 45:69–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández MA, Alonso C, Gonzáles MJ, Hernández LM (1999) Occurrence of organochlorine insecticides, PCBs and PCB congeners in waters and sediments of the Ebro River (Spain). Chemosphere 38:33–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frame GM, Cochran JW, Bowadt S (1996) Complete PCB congener distribution for 17 Aroclor mixtures determined by 3 HRGC systems optimized for comprehensive, quantitative, congener-specific analysis. J High Resolut Chromatogr 19:657–668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frignani M, Bellucci LG, Carraro C, Raccanelli S (2001) Polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments of the Venice Lagoon. Chemosphere 43:567–575

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gatehouse R (2004) Ecological risk assessment of dioxins in Australia–Technical report no. 11. Section 3 Exposure assessment. Department of the Environment and Heritage Australian Government. http://www.deh.gov.au/industry/chemicals/dioxins/report-11/terrestrail.html

  • Gomez-Gutiérrez A, Garnacho E, Bayona JM, Albaigés J (2007) Screening ecological risk assessment of persistent organic pollutants in Mediterranean sea sediments. Environ Int 33:867–876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He MC, Sun Y, Li XR, Yang ZF (2006) Distribution patterns of nitrobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls in water, suspended particulate matter and sediment from mid- and down-stream of the Yellow River (China). Chemosphere 65:365–374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hites RK, Day HR (1992) Unusual persistence of DDT in some western USA soils. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 48:259–264

    Google Scholar 

  • HSDB (2003) Hexachlorocyclohexanes. Environmental standards and regulations. Hazardous Substances Data Bank, Bethesda, MD

  • HSDB (2007) Heptachlor. Environmental standards and regulations. Hazardous Substances Data Bank, Bethesda, MD

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim KS, Hirai Y, Kato M, Urano K, Masunaga S (2004) Detailed PCB congener patterns in incinerator flue gas and commercial PCB formulations (Kanechlor). Chemosphere 55:539–553

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kutz FW, Wood PH, Bottimore DP (1991) Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in human adipose tissue. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 120:1–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lecouffe LC (1986) Etat actuel de la pollution sur les fonds du secteur de Cortiou (Marseille). Thèse de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille II, pp. 1–47

  • Leaute F (2008) Biogéochimie des contaminants organiques HAP, PCB et Pesticides organochlorés dans les sediments de l’étang de Thau (France). Thèse de Doctorat, Université de Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France

  • Lee KT, Tanabe S, Koh CH (2001) Distribution of organochlorine pesticides in sediments from Keyonggi bay and nearby areas, Korea. Environ Pollut 114:207–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Cai Z, Jiang G (2007) Occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls pollution in sediments from the Haihe River and Dagu Drainage River in Tianjin City, China. Chemosphere 68:1772–1778

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald DD, Dipinto LM, Field J, Ingersoll CG, Long ER, Swartz RC (2000) Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment effect concentrations for polychlorinated biphenyls. Environ Toxicol Chem 19:1403–1413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson K, Ekelund R, Grabic R, Bergqvist PA (2006) Bioaccumulation of PCB congeners in marine benthic infauna. Mar Environ Res 61:379–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mandalakis M, Tsapakis M, Tsoga A, Stephanou EG (2002) Gas–particle concentrations and distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbons, PAHs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs in the atmosphere of Athens (Greece). Atmos Environ 36:4023–4035

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marvin C, Painter S, Williams D, Richardson V, Rossmann R, Van Hoof P (2004) Spatial and temporal trends in surface water and sediment contamination in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Environ Pollut 129:131–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maule A, Plyte S, Quirk AV (1987) Dehalogenation of organochlorine insecticides by mixed anaerobic microbial populations. Pestic Biochem Physiol 27:229–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Médail F, Quézel P (1997) Hot-Spots analysis for conservation of plant biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin. Ann Mo Botan Garden 84:112–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monod JL, Schembri TH, Arnoux A (1987) Evolution des PCB dans un environnement Littoral Méditerranéen depuis la mise en application de l’arrêté Ministériel de Juillet 1975. J Français Hydrol 18:131–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muir DCG, Yarechewski AL (1984) Degradation of methoxychlor in sediments under various redox conditions. J Environ Sci Health B 19:271–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okay OS, Karaik B, Basak S, Henkelmann B, Bernhöft S, Schramm K-W (2009) PCB and PCDD/F in sediments and mussels of the Istambul strait (Turkey). Chemosphere 76:159–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Olafdottir OK, Petersen AE, Magnusdottir EV, Brornsson K, Johannesson T (2005) Temporal trends of organochlorine contamination in Black Guillemots in Iceland from 1976 to 1996. Environ Pollut 133:509–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OSPAR Commission (2002) Methoxychlor. Hazardous substances series. OSPAR background document on methoxychlor. OSPAR Commission, London, UK, p 22

    Google Scholar 

  • Safe SH (1993) Toxic aromatics. In: Kroschwitz JI, Howe-Grant M (eds) Kirk Othmer’s encyclopedia of chemical technology. Wiley, New York, NY, pp 127–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt WF, Bilboulian S, Rice CP, Fettinger JC, McConnell LL, Hapeman CJ (2001) Thermodynamic, spectroscopic and computational evidence for the irreversible conversion of β- to α-endosulfan. J Agric Food Chem 49:5372–5376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw T (1994) Agricultural chemicals in raw wool and the wool textile industry. J Inst Water Environ 8:287–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senthilkumarl K, Kannan K, Subramanian A, Tanabe S (2001) Accumulation of organochlorine pestiddes and polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments, aquatic organisms, birds, bird eggs and bat collected from South India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 8:35–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shivaramaiah HM, Kenedy IR (2006) Biodegradation of endosulfan by a soil bacterium. J Environ Sci Health B 41:895–905

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skarphedinsdottir H, Gunnarsson K, Gudmundsson GA, Nfon E (2010) Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of organochlorines in a marine food web at a pristine site in Iceland. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 58:800–809

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang YX, Zou M, Lie HJ, Lie JH (2000) Some features of circulation in the southern Huanghai Sea. Acta Oceanol Sin 22:563–570

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolosa I, Readman JW, Fowler SW, Villeneuve JP, Dachs J, Bayona LM, Albaiges J (1997) PCBs in the western Mediterranean. Temporal trends and mass balance assessment. Deep-Sea Res II Top Stud Oceanogr 44:907–928

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) (2006). Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops

  • Vane CH, Harrison I, Kim AW (2007) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments from the Mersey Estuary, U.K. Sci Total Environ 374:112–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villeneuve JP, Carvalho FP, Fowler SW, Cattini C (1999) Level and trends of PCBs, chlorinated pesticides and petroleum hydrocarbons in mussels from the NW Mediterranean coast: comparison of concentration in 1973/1974 and 1988/1989. Sci Total Environ 237(238):57–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wafo E, Sarrazin L, Diana C, Schembri T, Lagadec V, Monod JL (2006) Polychlorinated biphenyls and DDT residues distribution in sediments of Cortiou (Marseille, France). Mar Pollut Bull 52:104–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Bian YR, Jiang X, Gao HJ, Yu GF, Deng JC (2006) Residual characteristics of organochlorine pesticides in lou soils with different fertilization modes. Pedosphere 16:161–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, He M, Lin C, Quan X, Guo W, Yang Z (2007) Monitoring and assessment of persistent organochlorine residues in sediments from the Daliaohe River watershed, Northeast of China. Environ Monit Assess 133:231–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita N, Urushigawa Y, Masunaga S, Walash MI, Miyazaki A (2000) Organochlorine pesticides in water, sediment and fish from the Nile River and Manzala Lake in Egypt. Int J Environ Anal Chem 77:289–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • You J, Schuler LJ, Lydy MJ (2004) Acute Toxicity of Sediment-Sorbed Endrin, Methoxychlor, and Endosulfan to Hyalella azteca and Chironomus tentans. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 73:457–464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang P, Song J, Liu Z, Zheng G, Zhang N, He Z (2007) PCBs and its coupling with eco-environments in Southern Yellow Sea surface sediments. Mar Pollut Bull 54:1105–1115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XL, Luo XJ, Liu J, Luo Y, Chen SJ, Mai BX (2011) Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorinated pesticides in birds from a contaminated region in South China: association with trophic level, tissue distribution and risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18:556–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Hou H, Zhou YY, Xue ND, Li HY, Li FS (2010) Distribution and ecological risk of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in superficial sediments from Haihe River and Haihe Estuary Area, China. Chemosphere 78:1285–1293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of ANR CES grant for MARSECO Project. This work was done in the framework of the research federation ECCOREV. The authors specially thank the PROTEE team from the University of Toulon, Mr. Max Bresson and Mr. Jean François Barbion for their assistance during sampling trips. The authors would also thank Dr. Nick Marriner for rereading the manuscript. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. ADS gratefully acknowledges De Valroger, F and D. Eric for help with Scuba diving and sediment sampling.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries and Marine Sciences Program, Jenderal Soedirman University, Kampus Perikanan Unsoed Karangwangkal, Jl dr. Suparno, Purwokerto, 53123, Indonesia

    Agung Dhamar Syakti

  2. ISM2,UMR6263, équipe AD2EM, Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III, Europole de l’Arbois, Bâtiment Villemin, BP80, 13545, Aix-en-Provence Cedex 4, France

    Agung Dhamar Syakti, Laurence Asia, Fehmi Kanzari, Halikkudin Umasangadji, Laure Malleret, Gilbert Mille & Pierre Doumenq

  3. C E R E G E/UMR 6635 Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III, Europôle Méditerranéen de l’Arbois, Avenue Louis PHILIBERT, BP 80, 13545, Aix-en-Provence Cedex 4, France

    Yann Ternois

Authors
  1. Agung Dhamar Syakti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laurence Asia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fehmi Kanzari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Halikkudin Umasangadji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Laure Malleret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yann Ternois
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Gilbert Mille
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Pierre Doumenq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierre Doumenq.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Ake Bergman

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Text 1

IUPAC nomenclature for chemicals used. (DOCX 17 kb)

Fig. 6

A statistical approach using principal component analysis (PCA) loading plots for sediment samples collected at wastewater sewer outfall of Cortiou, Marseille for organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls compound distribution. Principal component analysis (PCA) loading plots for sediment samples collected from Cortiou sampling stations (C1-C12) for organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls compound distribution. (DOCX 85 kb)

Table 3

Comparison of PCB concentrations in the surface sediments of Cortiou coastal areas (ng. g-1) (DOCX 20 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Syakti, A.D., Asia, L., Kanzari, F. et al. Distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in marine sediments directly exposed to wastewater from Cortiou, Marseille. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 1524–1535 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0640-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0640-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation