Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in Baltic Sea sediments and bivalves

The levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (p,p '-DDT, p,p '-DDD, p,p '-DDE, alpha-HCH, gamma-HCH, HCB) were determined in Baltic Sea sediments and bivalves. Concentrations of PCBs in surface sediment (0-5 cm), calculated as the sum of seven CBs (CB28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) in one centimeter slices, ranged from 0.04 to 6.2 mu g kg(-1) on a dry weight basis (dw), and from 5.8 to 78 mu g kg(-1) C on a total carbon basis; corresponding sums of DDTs (p,p '-DDT, p,p '-DDD and p,p '-DDE) ranged from 0.13 to 5.0 mu g kg(-1) dw and 3.6 to 160 mu g kg(-1) C. The concentration ranges of alpha-HCH, gamma-HCH and HCB were found to be 0.0070.4, 0.003-0.2 and 0.002-0.4 mu g kg(-1) dw and 0.32-5.6, 0.05-3.4 and 0.19-7.5 mu g kg(-1) C, respectively. In bivalves, the sum of CBs varied in the range 72-110 mu g kg(-1) on a lipid weight (1w) basis (1.3-4.3 mu g kg(-1) on a wet weight basis, ww), while the sum of DDTs varied from 66 to 140 mu g kg(-1) (1w) (1.4-4.4 mu g kg(-1), ww). The concentration ranges of alpha-HCH, gamma-HCH and HCB in bivalves were found to be 4.2-10, 4.7-11 and 3.0-6.8 mu g kg(-1) (1w) in bivalves, respectively. In surface sediments, CB 138 and CB 153 were predominant among the CBs and p,p '-DDD among the DDTs, whereas in bivalves CB153, CB138 and pp-DDE predominated. Based on ecotoxicological assessment criteria, cause for concern regarding CBs in sediments was indicated for the Gulf of Finland arid the Northern Baltic Proper. The concentration levels of DDTs and CBs in bivalves indicated the possibility of biological effects, and that even long-term biological effects are likely in the case of DDTs in the Hano Bight (the Bornholm basin). (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.