PCB's in the sediment discharge test : the relationship between sediment and biota

The Sediment discharge test is updated by implementing the new WFD-standards. The standards for the 7 socalled indicator PCBs (numbers 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) in suspended matter expired and no new PCB-standards have been proposed although it is generally acknowledged that contaminants in sediment are very relevant for PCBs. On the other hand, dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are new priority substances which have standards in biota (fish, crustaceans and molluscs) instead of in water. In this report a new standard has been derived for PCB 153 in suspended matter which is comparable to the WFD-standard on dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in biota. Four calculation steps are included as presented in the figure resulting in a PCB 153 standard depending on the organic carbon fraction in the sediment: (361*foc) ug PCB153 /kg. If that is the case, the overall increase of PCB in sediment of the whole water body should not exceed 10%.