Sediment physicochemical properties condition pollutant association: a multivariate study of polybrominated diphenyl ethers on the Mendoza River irrigation areas

LANA, N.B.; EDUARDO KOCH; JOSÉ A. DANGELO; NÉSTOR F. CIOCCO; JORGELINA C. ALTAMIRANO

REVISTA DE LA FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS AGRARIAS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO

UNIV NACIONAL CUYO

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2014 vol. 46 p. 57 - 71

0370-4661

his work is a multidisciplinary environmental study that provides new insights into the relationships between sediment-organic matter characteristics and PBDEs concentration. The aim of the present multivariate study was to correlate factors influencing polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) accumulation in sediment by using principal component analysis (PCA). Organic matter studies by Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses (Total Organic Carbon, pH, electrical conductivity) of sediment samples were considered for PCA. Samples were collected from an artificial irrigation network on the Mendoza River irrigation areas. PCA provided a comprehensive analysis of the studied variables, identifying two components that explained 63% of the data variance. Those factors were mainly associated to organic matter degradation degree, which represent a new insight into the relationships between organic matter in sediments and PBDEs fate. In this sense it was possible to determine that not only the content but also the type of organic matter (chemical structure) could be relevant when evaluating PBDEs accumulation and transport in the environment. Typification of organic matter may be a useful tool to predict more feasible areas where PBDE, may accumulate, as well as sediment transportation capability.