Hazard from sediments contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

In the paper, attention is paid to the global problem of sediments contamination with selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in European and Non-European countries. The level of pollution of sediments with respect to origin, age of sediments, sources of contamination, estimation of the ecological risk and their presence in aquatic organisms is highlighted. The total concentration of PAHs was in the range 20 ng/g dry matter (dm)-90 mg/kg dm. The sum of polychlorinated biphenyls varied from not detected values up to 2.3 mg/kg dm. Among selected dioxins and furans, the measured concentrations ranged up to 1,800 ng/kg dm. The highest concentration of selected pesticides was equal to 10 mu g/kg dm-aldrin, 7.4 mu g/kg dm-dieldrin and 269 mu g/kg dm-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), respectively. Among phthalates, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalates occurred in the range from 0.04 mg/kg dm to 115 mg/kg dm. Some data are given with respect to toxic equivalency factor indicating the value of the contamination background, whereas others refer to sediment quality guidelines. Recent trends confirm the necessity of improving the quantitative understanding of the sources and emission of POPs in the water environment as these hazardous pollutants affect aquatic life and pose a risk to human health. Although legislation plays a significant role in environmental protection, regular, smart monitoring and sustainable management is required with respect to POPs in sediments to reduce contamination in the future.