POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS (PCDDS) AND DIBENZOFURANS (PCDFS) IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT - A LITERATURE-REVIEW

This review covers a number of aspects of the behaviour of PCDDs and PCDFs in the aquatic environment. It discusses the partitioning of PCDD/Fs in the water column between dissolved and particulate organics, and true solution. Processes of PCDD/F sedimentation and possible remobilization are also addressed. A number of field studies have been carried out on PCDD/F levels in sediments from lakes, fjords, rivers and estuaries. These are reported and commented on. The second part of the review addresses the movement of PCDD/Fs through the aquatic foodchain. The main emphasis of this section is on uptake in fish, mainly due to a predominance of fish studies in the literature, although other aquatic organisms are referred to where appropriate.