Distribution, source, fate and bioaccumulation of methyl siloxanes in marine environment

Studies have shown that some cyclic methyl siloxanes were identified as characterized of persistent, bioaccumulated, toxic, and potential to ecological harm. In this study, we determined methyl siloxanes in seawater, sediment and bottom fish samples collected from marine environment in Northeast China. The mean concentrations of total methyl siloxanes were 46.1 ± 27.2 ng/L, 12.4 ± 5.39 ng/g dry weight (dw) and 5.10 ± 1.34 wet weight (ww) in seawater, sediment and fish, respectively. Very strong and significant correlations (r = 0.94, p < 0.0001) were found in compositions of methyl siloxanes between seawater and sewage, indicating that sewage was the main source of methyl siloxanes in the marine area studied. It was found that the mean value of biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) was.0.716 ± 0.456 for D4, 0.103 ± 0.0771 for D5, 1.06 ± 0.528 for D6 and 0.877 ± 0.530 for D7. - Highlights: • Methyl siloxanes were determined in marine matrixes from Northeast China. • Contaminations of methyl siloxanes were spread in marine matrixes. • Compositions of methyl siloxanes were different among marine matrixes. • Discharge of sewage was the main source of methyl siloxanes in marine area. • BSAF of methyl siloxanes to fish were calculated. - The concentration, source, fate and bioaccumulation of methyl siloxanes were determined in marine matrixes in Northeast China