Occurrence of polychlorinated naphthalenes, polychlorinated biphenyls and short-chain chlorinated paraffins in marine sediments from Barcelona (Spain) Original Research Article

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analysed in marine sediment samples collected from the coastal area of Barcelona (Spain) and near of a submarine emissary coming from a waste water treatment plant located at the mouth of the Besòs River (Barcelona). An integrated sample treatment based on Soxhlet extraction followed by a simple clean-up with Florisil and graphitized carbon cartridge was employed. Gas chromatography coupled to ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in electron capture negative ionization mode, were used for PCN and SCCP determinations, respectively, while for PCB analysis gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) was used. The method developed provided low limits of detection (0.001–0.003 ng g−1 dry weight (dw) for PCNs, 1.8 ng g−1 for SCCPs and 0.006–0.014 ng g−1 dw for PCBs) and good run-to-run precisions (lower than RSD 8%) for the analysis of sediment samples. Concentration levels ranging from 0.17 to 3.27 ng g−1 dw for PCNs, between 0.21 and 1.17 μg g−1 dw for SCCPs, and from 2.33 to 44.00 ng g−1 (dw) for PCBs, were found in the coastal sediments, while for samples collected near to the submarine emissary higher levels (from 2.02 to 6.56 ng g−1 dw for PCNs, between 1.25 and 2.09 μg g−1 dw for SCCPs and from 22.34 to 37.74 ng g−1 dw for PCBs) were obtained. The results obtained provide new data about the occurrence of PCN and SCCP in the coastal area of Barcelona.