US EPA

2184577 

Journal Article 

Polychlorinated biphenyls in the Kupa River, Croatia, Yugoslavia 

Smit, Z; Drevenkar, V; Kodricsmit, M 

1987 

Yes 

Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 

16 

10-12 

2351-2358 

English 

WOS:A1987L605800013 

is also published as 2203331 Polychlorinated biphenyls in the Kupa River Croatia Yugoslavia

The presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was investigated in samples of water, suspended particles, sediments and fish from the Kupa river, Croatia, Yugoslavia, along a river stretch extending up to 10 km upstream and 200 km downstream of the primary contaminated karst region. Contamination was due to improper disposal of industrial waste discharge. The PCB levels detected in the samples collected downstream ranged from 1 to 52 ng l-1 for water, from 50 to 190 mug kg-1 for suspended particles and from 8 to 39 mug kg-1 for the sediment. A wide range of PCB concentrations, from 0.1 to 42.3 mug g-1, which were measured in edible portions of different fish confirmed a long-term contamination of the river with PCBs. As the Kupa may be classified among low to moderately contaminated waters, it is essential that the investigations of the presence and behaviour of PCBs in the river and its environment be continued.