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Organic matter degradation causes enrichment of organic pollutants in hadal sediments

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Sobek

    (Stockholm University)

  • Sebastian Abel

    (Stockholm University)

  • Hamed Sanei

    (Aarhus University)

  • Stefano Bonaglia

    (University of Gothenburg)

  • Zhe Li

    (Stockholm University)

  • Gisela Horlitz

    (Stockholm University)

  • Arka Rudra

    (Aarhus University)

  • Kazumasa Oguri

    (University of Southern Denmark
    Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology)

  • Ronnie N. Glud

    (University of Southern Denmark
    University of Southern Denmark
    Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology)

Abstract

Burial of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in deep-sea sediments contributes to 60% of their historical emissions. Yet, empirical data on their occurrence in the deep-ocean is scarce. Estimates of the deep-ocean POP sink are therefore uncertain. Hadal trenches, representing the deepest part of the ocean, are hotspots for organic carbon burial and decomposition. POPs favorably partition to organic carbon, making trenches likely significant sinks for contaminants. Here we show that PCBs occur in both hadal (7720–8085 m) and non-hadal (2560–4050 m) sediment in the Atacama Trench. PCB concentrations normalized to sediment dry weight were similar across sites while those normalized to sediment organic carbon increased exponentially as the inert organic carbon fraction of the sediment increased in degraded hadal sediments. We suggest that the unique deposition dynamics and elevated turnover of organic carbon in hadal trenches increase POP concentrations in the deepest places on Earth.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Sobek & Sebastian Abel & Hamed Sanei & Stefano Bonaglia & Zhe Li & Gisela Horlitz & Arka Rudra & Kazumasa Oguri & Ronnie N. Glud, 2023. "Organic matter degradation causes enrichment of organic pollutants in hadal sediments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37718-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37718-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ying-Li Zhou & Paraskevi Mara & Guo-Jie Cui & Virginia P. Edgcomb & Yong Wang, 2022. "Microbiomes in the Challenger Deep slope and bottom-axis sediments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Rui Bao & Michael Strasser & Ann P. McNichol & Negar Haghipour & Cameron McIntyre & Gerold Wefer & Timothy I. Eglinton, 2018. "Tectonically-triggered sediment and carbon export to the Hadal zone," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
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