Organic micropollutants in lakes: A sedimentological approach

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(90)90064-C· OSTI ID:7017274

Galassi, S; Provini, A; De Paolis, A ^[1]

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1. Water Research Institute, Brugherio (Italy)

Many very persistent and lipophilic compounds, considered to be of concern for chronic toxicity and bioaccumulation, are generally present in surface waters at very low and variable concentrations. Sediments represent a concentrated pool for these compounds and consequently they are often analyzed instead of water. Some theoretical models have been proposed recently in order to estimate the concentration of these pollutants in water and their potential risk for aquatic biota and human health. In this work sediments from three subalpine lakes located in Northern Italy, very close to each other but with different anthropogenic loads, were collected at several stations for determination of the classes of organic micropollutants of urban, industrial, and agricultural origin. Results show that urban and industrial pollution are predominant in this area. Two classes of micropollutants seem to be most related to anthropogenic activities: PAH and trichloroalkylphosphates. The first reaches lake sediments through atmospheric deposition and point sources; the second, present only in two lakes, is more likely to be due to industrial effluents. The advantages and limitations of the sedimentological approach for risk assessment in the aquatic environment are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 7017274
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (USA), Journal Name: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (USA) Vol. 19:2; ISSN EESAD; ISSN 0147-6513
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ESTERS
EUROPE
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
ITALY
LAKES
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORIC ACID ESTERS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SEDIMENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACE WATERS
WATER POLLUTION
WESTERN EUROPE