Volatile organic compounds in two polluted rivers in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain)
1991; Elsevier BV; Volume: 25; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0043-1354(91)90130-i
ISSN1879-2448
AutoresJosep I. Gómez-Belinchon, Joan O. Grimalt, J. Albaigés,
Tópico(s)Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
ResumoThe distributions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in two rivers flowing through heavily populated areas, Besós and Llobregat, have been investigated. River waters have been analyzed monthly for a period of 13 months. Marine samples from the coastal area where these rivers discharge as well as from other coastal sites situated away from river influence have also been studied. Petrogenic hydrocarbons, essentially C1–C5 alkylbenzenes and C8–C20 n-alkanes, are the major volatile compounds present in these rivers (estimated annual discharge 260 metric tons). Chlorinated benzenes, C10–C13 alkylbenzenes, some terpenes and tributylphosphates are other main VOC with estimated outputs to seawater of 27, 14, 7 and 2 metric tons per year, respectively. The VOC concentrations in the rivers are generally between two and three orders of magnitude higher than in the marine samples. The discharges of the Besós and Llobregat Rivers result in significant increases of C10–C13 alkylbenzenes, tributylphosphate, hexachlorobutadiene and chlorobenzenes to the nearby coastal area. However, in the case of petrogenic hydrocarbons, the background concentration resulting from marine traffic and related activities developed in the area outnumbers the riverine contributions.
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