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Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Gammarids, Caddisflies, and Bed Sediments of the Lowland River Po

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Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated in sediments and invertebrates (gammarids and caddisflies) collected in the River Po, upstream and downstream from a polluted tributary. Besides a diffuse contamination by penta-BDE technical mixture, the river sediments identified the tributary as an important source to the main river of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), which peaked to 64 μg/g (OC) in the downstream stretch. At 10 km downstream from the tributary, a higher bioavailability was evident than at 22 km, and small gammarids accumulated at two/three times the levels of PBDEs found in large gammarids. The congener profiles of sediments and invertebrates were dominated by BDE-47, BDE-99 and BDE-209.

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Acknowledgment

This research was funded by the European Community within the EASYRING project, EU Contract No. QLK4-2002-02286.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Research Institute–National Council of Research, via della Mornera 25, 20047, Brugherio, Milan, Italy

    Luigi Viganò, Claudio Roscioli, Claudio Erratico & Licia Guzzella

  2. Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebersberg Kun out 3, H-8237, Tihany, Hungary

    Anna Farkas

Authors
  1. Luigi Viganò
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  2. Claudio Roscioli
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  3. Claudio Erratico
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  4. Licia Guzzella
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  5. Anna Farkas
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Correspondence to Luigi Viganò.

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Viganò, L., Roscioli, C., Erratico, C. et al. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Gammarids, Caddisflies, and Bed Sediments of the Lowland River Po. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 82, 200–205 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-008-9605-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-008-9605-4

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