Endosulfan in the Chinese environment: monitoring and modeling

Abstract

This paper reviews the usage and emissions of endosulfan, the newest member of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs), in China, and its fate and behavior in Chinese environment. Endosulfan usage in China has been estimated to be approximately 25700 t between 1994 and 2004. Concentrations of endosulfan in different environmental compartments in China, such as air, soil, water, and biota, but focusing at air and surface soil, have been summarized. Concentrations of total endosulfan in surface soil across China were ranged from below detection limit (BDL) to 19000 pg·g−1 dry weight (dw), with geometric mean of 120 pg·g−1dw. The results indicated that endosulfan sulfate had highest concentration in Chinese soil, followed by β- and α-endosulfan. Air concentrations of endosulfan in China were ranged 0–340 pg·m−3 for α-endosulfan and 0–121 pg·m−3 for β-endosulfan, with high concentrations occurred in the cotton production areas. Gridded usage inventories of endosulfan on a fine gridded system with a 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution were compiled, from which, emission to air and residues in soil of endosulfan were calculated in each grid by using a modified simplified gridded pesticide emission and residue model (SGPERM), an integrated modeling system combining mathematical model, database management system, and geographic information system. Total emissions were around 10800 t from 1994 to 2004. Based on the emission and residue inventories, concentrations of α- and β-endosulfan in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were also calculated for each grid cell, which are in general consistent with the published monitoring data.