Seasonal variations and associated health risks of polychlorinated naphthalenes in Markman Canal, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Agunbiade, Idowu Victoria; Adeniji, Abiodun Olagoke; Okoh, Anthony Ifeanyi; Okoh, Omobola Oluranti

This study focused on evaluation of the levels, seasonal variations and human health risks associated with polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in water and sediment samples of Markman Canal using solid phase and soxhlet extraction methods respectively, followed by clean-up and quantification with gas chromatograph coupled with microelectron capture detector. The sum of eight PCNs congener's (∑8PCNs) in water and sediments varied from 0.035 to 0.699 μg/L and 0.260 to 6744.16 μg/kg dw, respectively. Highest PCNs concentrations were recorded in water during winter, while sediment samples collected during spring contained maximum levels. The estimated toxic equivalency (TEQ) for water and sediments was 1.19 × 10–7–1.47 × 10–4 µg/L and 4.43 × 10−5–4.19 × 10−1 µg/kg consecutively. The PCN levels and TEQ values revealed that this waterbody is polluted but constitutes no excess health risk. Efforts should be made to control all the activities contributing to pollution of this canal.

EASTERN Cape (South Africa); POLYCHLORINATED naphthalenes; SOLID phase extraction; SEASONS; SPRING; SEDIMENT sampling; PLASTIC marine debris; POLYCHLORINATED biphenyls

Environmental Geochemistry & Health, 2023, Vol 45, Issue 5, p2051

0269-4042

Academic Journal

10.1007/s10653-022-01324-7