Determination of hexabromocyclododecanes in sediments from the Haihe River in China by an optimized HPLC–MS–MS method

Hexabromocyclododecanes（HBCDs）,a new type of persistent organic pollutants widely used as brominated flame retardants,have attracted wide attention due to their increasing level and toxicity. A method based on high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry（HPLC–MS–MS）in electrospray ionization mode has been developed by optimization of various parameters,which effectively improved the separation degree and responsive intensity of α-,β-and γ-HBCD isomers. The concentrations and distribution profiles of three HBCD isomers were investigated in sediments from the Haihe River in China.It was observed that the concentrations of HBCDs varied in the range of 0.4–58.82 ng/g,showing a decreasing trend along the flow direction,possibly due to attenuation and biodegradation along the flow direction of the Haihe River. The distribution profile of α-,β-,γ-HBCD was 7.91%–88.6%,0–91.47%,and 0.62%–42.83%,respectively. Interestingly,α-HBCD dominated in most sample sites. This was different from the distribution profile in commercial industrial products,which might be attributed to the inter-transformation and different degradation rates of the three HBCD isomers. The potential ecological risk of HBCDs in sediment was characterized under the two-tiered procedure of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency for environmental risk assessment. Although the HBCDs in the selected section of the Haihe River presented ＂no risk＂ in the sediment compartment,its risk in sediment cannot be neglected since sediment is one of the important sinks and reservoirs of pollutants.

Pollution characteristics and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of the southern part of the Haihe River system in China

The southern part of the Haihe River system, the largest river system in the Haihe River Basin, is important to maintain a healthy ecosystem and safe drinking water as well as for the economic development of China. To assess the effect of rapid industrialization and urbanization on the pattern of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination, the PAH pollution characteristics of the southern part of the Haihe River system was investigated. Sixteen PAHs in surface sediments samples collected from 24 sites covering the southern part of the Haihe River system from the upstream to the estuaries were detected and analyzed. The total PAH concentration ranged from 258.77 to 11296.66 ng/g dry weight. On average, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5and 6-ring PAHs comprised 25.32%, 27.22%, 22.62%, 14.89% and 9.96% of the total PAHs, respectively. Sites with high concentrations were concentrated in the Fuhe River, Fuyang River and Wei River, which are located near cities. A risk quotient (RQ) was used to assess the ecological risk of PAHs. The mean values of the RQ(MPCs) of individual PAHs were lower than 1.00, except for those of naphthalene (2.00) and pyrene (1.67). The RQPAHs calculated for the samples indicated that the Xidayang reservoir and the estuary of the Ziya River were determined to be at a low risk level, while Baoding City, Handan City and Aixinzhuang were determined to be at a high risk level.

海河流域沉积物重金属形态分布特征及生态风险评估

海河流域中含有重金属的生活、工业污水排入量较大,致使重金属大量进入水环境并聚集在沉积物中。传统的生态风险评估方法忽略了重金属形态分布特征因素,造成生态风险评估可靠性较低的问题。本文以海河流域平原段河流为研究对象,提出了海河流域沉积物重金属形态分布特征及生态风险评估研究,在海河流域设置采集点,采集沉积物样品,并在实验室中使用混合酸处理样品,采用原子吸收法测定样品中重金属含量,分析沉积物重金属形态分布特征。在生态风险评估中,借助丰度计算完善生态风险评估指数,设计重金属生态风险评估标准。实验结果表明,设计方法得到的各个采样点和各类重金属评价与实际情况更加接近,可靠性更高,评估性能更好。