Levels, distribution profile, and risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water and sediment from two tributaries of the River Chenab, Pakistan

Abstract

The first study aimed to investigate the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentration level, spatial distribution pattern, and ecological risk assessment of water and sediment samples from two tributaries (Nullah Aik and Palkhu) of the River Chenab, Punjab Province, Pakistan. A total of 32 PCB congeners were analyzed, and PCB concentration in sediment and water samples ranged between 0.80 and 60 ng/g and 0.20 and 28 ng/L, respectively, where tetra-CBs and tri-CBs dominated over other studied PCB homologs. Dioxin toxicity equivalency (TEQ) was calculated and PCB-126 and PCB-169 showed the higher TEQ values compared with the WHO guidelines, and sediment samples were more toxic than the water samples. The results of the present study should be considered seriously by government authorities to take a proper action against unchecked discharge of contaminants in ecological integrities; otherwise, there may be drastic results in the near future.