Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2012, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (5): 480-485.doi:

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Residuals of Organochlorine Pesticides DDT and HCH in Surface Sediments of the Pearl River Estuary

Mu-San-Niu, LAI  Zi-Ni, WANG  Chao, LI  Xiu-Li, LI  Yue-Fei, ZHAO  Li-Na, GAO  Yuan   

  1. Pearal River Fisheries Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences
  • Received:2012-02-22 Revised:2012-09-10 Online:2012-09-25 Published:2012-10-08
  • Contact: LAI Zi-Ni Pearal River Fisheries Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences E-mail:znlai01@163.com

Abstract: Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane(HCH), arewere common organochlorine pesticides extensively used for agriculture and vector control purposes due to their low cost and high effectiveness. As they are quite persistent, they become ubiquitous. And as they are potentially toxic and bioaccumulative in nature, they accumulate in organisms which once get exposed to them, and eventually cause adverse effects on both human and wildlife, such as cancer, damage to the nervous system, reproductive disorders, and disruption of the immune system. However, little has been done on this issue of the Pearl River estuary. So, during the period from August, 2010 to May, 2011, samples of surface sediments were collected four times at the 8 outlets of the Pearl River esturay for analysis of residues of DDTs(p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDD, o,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDT)and HCHs(a-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH)using the gas chromatograph-electron capture (GC-ECD) method. Results show that total DDTs contents in the surface sediments from  the Pearl River ranged from 1.02 to 3.08 μg?kg-1 (dry weight) and averaged 1.91 μg?kg-1, and total HCHs contents ranged from 0.21 to 0.41 μg?kg-1 and averaged 0.31 μg?kg-1. DDTs were much higher than HCHs in average content, and p,p’-DDT contributed the most, ranging from ND to 7.66 μg?kg-1, with a mean of 2.12 μg?kg-1. In most of the samples, wα-HCH)/wγ-HCH)ratios were lower than 3, implying that a-HCH has mostly been degraded or that lindane is gradually taking the place of industrial HCHs as the major source of the pollutant HCHs in the water environment and w(DDT)/w(DDD+DDE) ratios higher than 2, indicating that besides residuals of the pesticides used in the past, new input of DDTs type pesticides is found.

Key words: DDTs, HCHs, Pearl River, estuary, surface sediments, residual character, risk assessment

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