The first full-congener analysis of 209 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the blubber of short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) stranded along the coast of Savu Island, Indonesia.

Short-finned pilot whales (SFPW) are a group of cetaceans found globally in tropical and temperate seas and are commonly stranded in the group, but the reason behind their stranding is still unknown. No detailed information on the contamination status and bioaccumulation of halogenated organic compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in the SFPW from Indonesian waters has been reported. Therefore, we analyzed all 209 PCB congeners in the blubber of 20 SFPW specimens stranded along the coast of Savu Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, in October 2012 to explain the status of contamination, congener profiles, potential risk of PCBs to cetaceans, and the determination of unintentionally produced PCBs (u-PCBs) in the blubber of SFPW. Concentrations of Σ209PCBs, Σ7in-PCBs, Σ12dl-PCBs, and Σ21u-PCBs were between 48 and 490 (mean:240 ± 140), 22-230 (110 ± 60), 2.6-38 (17 ± 10), and 1.0-13 (6.3 ± 3.7) ng g-1 lipid weight (lw), respectively. Congener-specific profiles of PCBs among sex and estimated age groups were observed; relatively high proportions of tri-to penta-CBs in juveniles and highly chlorinated recalcitrant congeners in structure-activity groups (SAGs) in sub-adult females were noted. The estimated toxic equivalency (TEQs) value for dl-PCBs ranged from 2.2 to 60 TEQWHO pg/g lw, with juveniles containing high TEQ values than sub-adults and adults. Although the TEQs and concentrations of PCBs in SFPW stranded along Indonesian coasts were lower than those reported for similar whale species from other North Pacific regions, further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of halogenated organic pollutants on their survival and health.

First insight into accumulation of characteristics and tissue distribution of PCBs, PBDEs, and other BFRs in the living Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis).

Persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and other brominated flame retardants, were detected in the liver, muscle, and ovary tissues of the Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis) incidentally caught around Gangga Island, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, on November 5, 2014. Concentrations of total PCBs (209 congeners, 300-2600 ng g-1 lipid weight) in all tissues showed higher than those of PBDEs (41 congeners, 3.9-6.3 ng g-1 lw) and BTBPE (1.1-3.6 ng g-1 lw). The tissue-specific PCB and PBDE profiles were likely due to differences in the lipid composition. Toxic equivalent (TEQ) values of dioxin-like PCBs in coelacanth tissues were lower than the benchmark values for early-life fish. However, compared with the data reported for deep-sea fishes in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the relatively high concentrations of PCBs detected in this study raise concerns regarding Indonesian coelacanth conservation and habitat conditions.

Organochlorine pesticides in marine sediments and seawater from Cirebon coastal water, West Java, Indonesia: Concentration, spatial distribution, potential sources, and ecological risk assessment.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were investigated in surface sediments and seawater from three major estuaries at Cirebon coastal water, West Java Province, Indonesia. Total concentrations of OCPs in seawater and sediment varied from 10 to 120 ng/L (32 ± 36 ng/L) and 1.5 to 17 ng/g dw (mean of 7.4 ± 4.0 ng/g dw), respectively. OCPs concentrations in Sukalila estuary were higher than those detected in Bondet and Kejawan estuaries. The drins group was the predominant OCPs contaminant in seawater and sediment samples. Historical application of DDT, recent use of 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE), and application of technical hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) are significant sources of DDTs and HCHs, respectively. The concentrations of γ-HCH and heptachlor epoxide in marine sediment elevated the value of Threshold Effect Limit (TEL) in 48% of the total study stations but lowered the value of Probable Effect Limit (PEL), suggesting that they ocassionally trigger adverse effects on benthic organisms.

Determination of brominated flame retardants including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, pentabromoethylbenzene, hexabromobiphenyl, and decabromodiphenyl ethane in sediment samples: Validation of a rapid and efficient clean-up method and application to a sediment core from Lake Biwa, Japan.

The development of rapid and efficient analytical method for the determination of legacy and current-use brominated flame retardants (BFRs) has been performed due to environmental concern related to these pollutants. In the present study, we used an automated clean-up device equipped with pre-packed micro-column sets (containing sulfuric acid impregnated silica gel and silver-modified alumina) to develop an effective purification method for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), pentabromoethylbenzene, hexabromobiphenyl, and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) in sediment extracts. Matrix-spiked sediments (n = 6) and the Standard Reference Material® 1944 samples (n = 6) were tested. Our method showed acceptable accuracy, repeatability, and sensitivity for almost all the target compounds with reduced processing time, labor requirement, and solvent amounts as compared to conventional clean-up method (e.g., sulfuric acid treatment and self-packed chromatographic columns). The validated method was applied to sediment core samples (n = 16) collected in 2019 from Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. PBDEs were detected in sediment samples of 0-13 cm depth (dated between 1990 and 2019) at relatively low concentrations (median 5.7; range 2.6-9.4 ng/g dry weight). PBDE profiles were dominated by BDE-209, which accounted for 91 ± 10% of total PBDEs. Among other BFRs, only DBDPE was found in sediment layers of 0-9 cm depth (deposited between 2005 and 2019). DBDPE concentrations ranged from 0.43 to 1.6 (median 0.71) ng/g and showed increasing trend toward shallower depths.

The first occurrence, spatial distribution and characteristics of microplastic particles in sediments from Banten Bay, Indonesia.

Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as an emerging issue worldwide, including Indonesia. Due to the limited of data available regarding MPs pollution in Indonesian waters, we investigated the occurrence, spatial distribution, characteristics, and potential ecological impacts of MPs in sediments from 25 stations in the Banten Bay, a shallow and semi enclosed bay located on the northwestern coast of Java, Indonesia. The bay has experienced very high population pressure due to increasing coastal development in the last decade. MPs were extracted by flotation methods, observed under a stereomicroscope, and identified by FTIR imaging. This study showed that MPs pollution is prevalent in the Banten Bay, where all sediments contained MPs with an average concentration of 267 ± 98 particles/kg dw sediment. The most common shape, size, and polymer type were foam (38% of the observed MPs), size between 500 and 1000 µm (>50%), and extended polystyrene, respectively. The particles were found to be more highly distributed in the stations with fine sediment grain sizes and in locations near the river mouth of the island than in areas offshore, which suggests that the impact of the MPs currently in the sediments might be harmful to the benthic community and potentially increase the magnitude into the pelagic community. Moreover, the river effluent is suggested as a pathway for plastic pollution to the Banten Bay.

Microplastic Effect Thresholds for Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrates.

Now that microplastics have been detected in lakes, rivers, and estuaries all over the globe, evaluating their effects on biota has become an urgent research priority. This is the first study that aims at determining the effect thresholds for a battery of six freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates with different species traits, using a wide range of microplastic concentrations. Standardized 28 days single species bioassays were performed under environmentally relevant exposure conditions using polystyrene microplastics (20-500 µm) mixed with sediment at concentrations ranging from 0 to 40% sediment dry weight (dw). Microplastics caused no effects on the survival of Gammarus pulex, Hyalella azteca, Asellus aquaticus, Sphaerium corneum, and Tubifex spp. and no effects were found on the reproduction of Lumbriculus variegatus. No significant differences in growth were found for H. azteca, A. aquaticus, S. corneum, L. variegatus, and Tubifex spp. However, G. pulex showed a significant reduction in growth (EC10 = 1.07% sediment dw) and microplastic uptake was proportional with microplastic concentrations in sediment. These results indicate that although the risks of environmentally realistic concentrations of microplastics may be low, they still may affect the biodiversity and the functioning of aquatic communities which after all also depend on the sensitive species.