Study of the distribution of dichlorobenzenes in sediment and water of Suquia River basin (Cordoba-Argentina) by an optimised SPME-GC-MS procedure

MAGDALENA V.MONFERRÁN, PABLO R. CORTINA, ANA N. SANTIAGO, DANIEL A. WUNDERLIN

International Journal of Environment and Health

Inderscience Enterprises Limited

Año: 2009 vol. 3 p. 363 - 378

1743-4963

Three dichlorobenzene isomers (DCBs) were monitored in waterand sediment from the Suquía River basin by Solid Phase Microextraction(HS-SPME), coupled to Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS).DCBs were not detected in water or sediments corresponding to the upperbasin. Pollution with DCBs became evident when the river flows through smallcities. As expected, Córdoba city causes the most severe pollution, presentingup to 764.7 μg kg–1 DW DCBs in the sediment of urban areas. Results showthat DCBs mainly originate in domestic activities, reaching the river bynon-point sources such as urban run-off or sewage discharge, resulting ina widespread distribution in the basin. The high level of DCBs found in sediments involves absorption of these xenobiotics in the natural organicmatter of sediments. This organic layer could be responsible for transportingDCBs downstream from their discharge, thus spreading the pollutionthroughout the basin.