Determination of Occurrences, Distribution, Health Impacts of Organochlorine Pesticides in Soils of Central China.

Tekleweini Gereslassie,Ababo Workineh,Onyango Janet Atieno,Jun Wang

doi:10.3390/ijerph16010146

Abstract

Organochlorine pesticides are groups of chemicals applied to prevent pest and insect infestation. This study was aimed at investigating the concentration, potential sources, cancer risk and ecological toxicity of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Huangpi district, Wuhan, China. Eight OCPs in soil samples collected from four land-use types at depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm were examined. Sample extraction was carried out by solid phase matrix extraction method and analyzed using Agilent gas chromatograph 7890B equipped with electron capture detectors (ECD). The total concentration of OCPs ranged from 0.00–32.7 ng g−1 in the surface and 0.01–100.45 ng g−1 in the subsurface soil layer. Beta hexachlorocyclohexanes (β-HCH) with 2.20 and 7.71 ng g−1 in the surface and subsurface soil layers, respectively, was the dominant compound. The mean concentrations of OCPs in all samples were less than the threshold values for hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs) in China soil. Concentration of OCPs in the four land-use types were in the order of: paddy field > barren land > farmland > plastic greenhouse. Results of composition analysis revealed recent application of lindane as a major and historical use of new technical HCHs as a minor source of HCHs. On the other hand, application of new technical p,p’-DDT is the main source of DDTs in the study area. The estimated lifetime average daily dose, incremental lifetime cancer risks and hazard quotient values revealed that there is less likelihood of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health risks on the local residents.

Highlights

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are groups of chemicals applied to prevent and eradicate insects, weeds, fungi and bacterial impacts [1]
The range, mean, standard deviation, frequency, detection limits (DL) and quantification limits (QL) for HCHs and DDTs investigated in the present study are presented below (Table 1)
This study examined the concentration, distribution, possible source and human health impacts of eight OCPs (HCHs and DDTs) across eighteen sampling sites from four land-use types at the depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm

Summary

Introduction

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are groups of chemicals applied to prevent and eradicate insects, weeds, fungi and bacterial impacts [1]. Organochlorine pesticides are known for their ecological toxicity, high persistence and strong affinity to bioaccumulation [6,7]. Due to the high level of environmental toxicity and health impacts, the large-scale production and use of OCPs (HCHs and DDTs) is currently prohibited. The environmental, human and wildlife health impacts of their residues have been detected and reported in many countries [8,9,10]. In addition to their persistence, the continuous production, illegal distribution and use of HCHs and DDTs as agricultural inputs has been apparently reported in many countries, in developing countries [11]

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Conclusion