Abstract:

Xiamen and its surroundings are representative areas suffering from intense anthropogenic turbulence and contamination in southeast coast of China during rapid industrialization and urbanization period, thus relevant or- ganic pollutants research is necessary to assess the coastal environmental quality and generate management strategy. Contamination status of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin- like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) was investigated for 7 surface sediment samples collected in these areas in January 2007. The given data were used to evaluate the contamination and their potential risks of the pollutants. Concentrations of PCDD/Fs were in the range of 60 to 4089 pg g−1 (dry weight) with an average of 1706 pg g−1 and DL-PCBs in the range of 3 to 76 pg g−1 with an average of 28 pg g−1. Octa-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and PCBs 105 and 118 were the main congeners of the PCDD/F and DL-PCB, respectively. The toxicity equivalent concentrations (TEQs) were in the range of 0.15 to 5.2 pg g−1 (average: 3.0 pg g−1) for PCDD/Fs, while in the range of blimit of quantitation (LOQ) to 0.09 pg g−1 (average: 0.05 pg g−1) for DL-PCBs. Congener pattern analysis showed a dominance of OCDD, suggesting main sources were current or historical use of chlorophenol, current use of dioxin contaminated pesticides or atmospheric deposition. Due to the current levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in this area, it is necessary to further research their biogeochemical processes and ecological influences in the future.