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Occurrence of Polychlorodibenzothiophenes in Nanjing Section of the Yangtze River, China

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Abstract

Sediment and water samples collected from 8 sites of the Yangtze River in Nanjing section were characterized with 31 congeners of polychlorodibenzothiophenes (PCDTs). Concentrations and percentage compositions of these PCDTs in water and sediments were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results showed that ∑PCDT concentrations in sediments were higher (0.86–1.75 μg/kg) than those in water (0.56–1.30 μg/L). A linear relationship existed between ∑PCDT concentrations and total organic carbon content in sediments, whereas there was a poor linearity between ∑PCDTs concentrations and dissolved organic carbon content in water phase. Moreover, percentage compositions showed that penta-chlorinated DTs were the predominant congeners both in sediments and water. Differences existed in the percentage compositions between water and sediments. Highly chlorinated DTs accounted for a larger proportion in sediments than those in water. In conclusion, the present study showed the prevalent contamination by PCDTs in sediments and water from the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41071319 21377051), the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment of China (Grant No. 2012ZX07506-001), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Graduate School of Nanjing University (Grant No. 2013CL08).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

      Qun He, Li Qin, Xuesheng Zhang, Liansheng Wang, Ping Sun & Zunyao Wang

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    1. Qun He
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    2. Li Qin
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    3. Xuesheng Zhang
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    4. Liansheng Wang
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    5. Ping Sun
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    6. Zunyao Wang
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    Correspondence to Zunyao Wang.

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    Qun He and Li Qin contributed equally to the work.

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    He, Q., Qin, L., Zhang, X. et al. Occurrence of Polychlorodibenzothiophenes in Nanjing Section of the Yangtze River, China. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 69, 453–460 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0159-2

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