PBDE CONCENTRATIONS AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTIONS IN AN INDUSTRIALISED WATER BODY: THE FIRTH OF CLYDE, SCOTLAND

摘要

The Firth of Clyde is a partially enclosed sea loch with substantial historical and current inputs of industrial and domestic discharges. It is the most industrialised and urbanised area of Scotland and effluent and accidental discharges from engineering works, military bases, textile and paper industries and power stations have all resulted in environmental contamination of the area. Due to this industrial legacy, the Clyde is arguably Scotland's most heavily contaminated water body. CBs and PAHs, which were determined in a previous study, showed a localised contamination pattern associated with point sources, with highest concentrations at the Holy Loch (former military base) and Garroch Head (former sewage sludge dump site). Archived plaice liver and sediments were analysed to determine the concentration of the PBDE contaminant group. The PBDEs display a similar pattern to the CBs and PAHs with localised point source contamination but the highest concentrations are at Hunterston. High BDE209 concentrations are found at Garroch Head (the former sewage sludge dump site) but elevated concentrations of BDE209 are also found at Hunterston, with no obvious source, though the nuclear power station and a nearby explosives factory might be considered as candidates.