Modeling the fate of polychlorinated biphenyls in the inner Oslofjord, Norway.

Abstract:

:A dynamic, segmented, multimedia fate and transport model has been developed, evaluated, and applied to gain insight regarding the behavior of seven polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the Inner Oslofjord (Norway). A comparison with a dated sediment core reveals that the model is not capable of reproducing some key features of the observed, historical, long-term trend in sediments, although better agreement is observed for six of seven PCB congeners over the last two decades. The model also underestimates the concentrations of PCBs in surface sediments in areas adjacent to the city of Oslo (Norway). In general, deviations between modeled and observed concentrations indicate that the historical emissions and discharges of PCBs are not sufficiently characterized and described. Net fluxes predicted by the model suggest that several congeners may have experienced a reversal of air-water and seawater-sediment exchange during the last decade or even earlier. The present study further suggests that the benefit of the proposed removal of the most contaminated sediments of the Inner Oslofjord needs to be assessed, with consideration of the relative contribution of current atmospheric inputs as well as the leaching of PCBs from less contaminated sediments.

journal_name

Environ Toxicol Chem

authors

Breivik K,Bjerkeng B,Wania F,Helland A,Magnusson J

doi

10.1897/03-343

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2004-10-01 00:00:00

pages

2386-95

issue

10

eissn

0730-7268

issn

1552-8618

journal_volume

23

pub_type

杂志文章