Asia POPs Monitor
Issue 22, October 2007
Project result from Thailand
Distribution of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Water and Sediment from Aquatic Environment, Thailand
Boonyatumanond Ruchaya, Thongklieng Sunitra
Environmental Research and Training Center, Technopolis, Klong 5,
Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
Submitted to 3rd JSPS, 3-5 August, 2007, Indonesia
Abstract
To assess the status of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Thailand,
we collected sediment and water samples from four main rivers and the coastal
area during 2004 to 2005. All samples were analyzed for Hexachlorobenzene,
heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane, mirex,
DDT-isomers and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The POPs concentrations
detected in water samples ranged from ~1 to 20 ppt (ng/L). The sediment
samples identified aldrin, trans-chlordane, cis-chlordane, dieldrin, endrin,
p,p-DDD, and p,p-DDT. The highest concentration of POPs residue in sediment
ranged p,p-DDT 0.5 to 11.5 ng/g. The total PCBs concentrations were calculated
from 44 isomers and congeners. The results showed a decreasing trend of
PCBs concentration in sediment from canals, the river mouth of the Chao
Phraya River and the estuary of the Chao Phraya River to the upper Gulf
of Thailand. The amounts detected ranged from 933 to 112 pg/g, 70 to 217
pg/g, 25 to 56 and 128 to 194 pg/g, respectively. Comparison of PCBs residues
among the four main rivers, which flow to the upper Gulf of Thailand, indicated
that the Chao Phraya River was the main contributor of PCBs to the upper
Gulf of Thailand.
Abstract : persistent organic pollutants, POPs, sediment, river, PCBs, Thailand
UNU presented its project results at Dioxin 2007
The 27th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants
(Dioxin 2007) was held between 2-7 September 2007, in Tokyo. UNU presented
its project results between 2002-2006 on monitoring POPs in water, sediment,
and biota samples.
UNU
Project Poster (660KB)
Dioxin Conference Website
(external link)
Upcoming Events
14 November 2007, Indonesia
UNU Symposium
on POPs: Global Transport, Best Environmental Practice, and Risk Perception
The Environmental Monitoring and Governance in the Asian Coastal Hydrosphere
project hosts a symposium every year at the project partner country. This
year the symposium will be held in Indonesia and will focus on POPs issues
linked to the specific issues of this region, haze issues.
Opportunities at UNU
UNU International Course 2008: The application deadline is 10 January 2008.
Introduction of External Publication by Eric Wolanski
Ecohydrology is a multidisciplinary science that integrates disciplines
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presented will serve as a toolkit for designing a management plan for the
ecologically sustainable development of an estuary.
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