Concentrations and Congener Patterns of PCDD/FS in Surface Sediment, Settling Particulate Matter, Water and Fish From the South Bothnian Sea, Sweden

• This study focused on PCDD/F contamination along the Swedish coast of the southern Bothnian Sea, a heavily polluted area of the Baltic Sea. Data from earlier studies of surface sediment, perch, viviparous blenny and herring were analyzed together with new data for settling particulate matter (SPM) and sea water. PCDD/F pollution in surface sediment and SPM in the southern Bothnian Sea were similar both in respect to pattern and levels. The highest levels were 170 000 and 33 000 pg/g TOC in sediment and SPM respectively, and the congener pattern was dominated by OCDD, OCDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF. The dissolved concentrations in water were estimated by analysis of passive samplers of low density polyethylene (LDPE) type. The water pollution pattern was extremely different and showed complete domination of 2,3,7,8-TCDF. The fish showed species specific differences in the fractions of the two dominating congeners, 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF. All species did, however, show an increase in the fraction 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF as compared to the pattern in passive water samplers.

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