|
(38-46) Vertical distribution profiles of organics contaminants in coastal marine sediments. Lara, Pablo Antonio1, Gómez-Parra, Abelardo1, González-Mazo, Eduardo*,1, 1 Facultad de Ciencias del Mar. Universidad de Cádiz., Cadiz, Cadiz ABSTRACT- The variation with depth of the concentration of organic contaminants was determined in coastal sediments. We analyzed samples of sediments cores taken from a littoral zone subjected to the discharge of untreated urban effluents in the Bay of Cadiz in the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The compounds were extracted by accelerated solvent extraction with methanol/acetone (50/50) for the surfactants and hexane/dichloromethane (50/50) for organochlorines. An general analytical procedure based on SPE-LC-MS or SPE-LC-MS was employed for determining the concentrations. The analysis revealed the presence of surfactants (alcohol ethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylates, coconut diethanol amides, nonylphenol, octylphenol and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates), PCBs, PAHs (methylphenanthrenes and methyldibenzothiophenes) and some organochlorines pesticides. The general pattern showed a sharp reduction with the distance from the effluent discharge point and with the depth in the sediment. Key words: Coastal marine sediments, organic contaminants, surfactants, organochlorines |
