Levels and source of organochlorine pesticides in surface waters of Qiantang River, China

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2008-01, Vol.136 (1-3), p.277-287
• Main Authors: Zhou, Rongbing, Zhu, Lizhong, Chen, Yuyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agriculture; Agriculture - methods; Animals; Applied sciences; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; China; Continental surface waters; DDD; DDE; DDT (pesticide); Drinking water; Dry/wet deposition; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; HCH; Heptachlor; Hexachlorocyclohexane; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis; Laboratories; Lindane; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Natural water pollution; Nitrous oxide; Organic compounds; Organochlorine pesticides; PCB; Pesticide Residues - analysis; Pesticides; Pesticides - analysis; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Rivers; Rivers - chemistry; Runoff; Sediments; soil; Soil erosion; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Stainless steel; Studies; Summer; Surface water; Water analysis; Water bodies; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water sampling; Water treatment and pollution; Wet deposition
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-007-9683-5

Qiantang River is a typical river used for drinking water source, flowing through agricultural area in east China. Surface water samples at 45 sampling sites from the river were collected and analyzed for 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) during six surveys in 2 years of 2005-2006. Sediments, soils, farmland runoff water and dry/wet deposition of this region were also measured for their OCPs residue in order to know possible source of OCPs contamination. The total OCPs concentrations in surface water were 7.68-615.2 ng/l. β-HCH, δ-HCH, Aldrin, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide are the major OCPs in water. The maximum levels of OCPs in water were found in July, while significantly lower OCP concentrations were measured in January. Significant linear correlation was found between the concentration of HCH and that of total 13 OCPs in water. The measured OCP concentrations in sediments, soils, farmland runoff water and dry/wet deposition are discussed in relation to concentrations and patterns found in the surface water. Comparison of OCP levels in sediments and soils led to conclusion that erosion of soil contribute significantly to the contamination of water. The OCPs dry and wet deposition to water body was estimated to 0.49 and 0.86 ton/year, respectively. The ratio of α/γ-HCH and (DDE+DDD)/[summation operator]DDT in environmental matrix indicated there probably existed new OCPs input of lindane and dicofol into the river.