Persistent Organic Pollutants in Tagus Estuary Salt Marshes: Patterns of Contamination and Plant Uptake.

ABSTRACT: The presence of anthropogenic compounds, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), was studied in three salt marshes within the Tagus estuary, Portugal, along an anthropogenic pressure gradient. Results revealed differences in OCPs and PCBs among the marshes, with differing concentration levels. Specifically, one marsh, with surrounding agricultural activity, showed the highest OCP concentrations, while another, with a historical industrial past, exhibited elevated PCB levels. In contrast, a third marsh, part of a natural reserve, displayed comparatively lower concentrations of both substances. Sediment concentrations, likely influenced by agricultural practices, were found to be comparable to or higher than those observed in other Portuguese estuarie

SUBMITTER: Cruz de Carvalho R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11417836 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature