Occurrence of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in soils and sediments from Eastern Romania

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as DDT and analogues, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), were measured in surface soils and sediments from Eastern Romania. Thirty-nine soil samples from the forested zone, eight soil samples from a municipal waste-disposal site, and 10 sediment samples from the Bahlui River along the Iassy city were analysed using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and gas chromatography coupled to electron capture detection or mass spectrometry. The low mean concentrations of OCPs (11–31 and 22–84 ng g−1 for HCHs and DDTs, respectively) and PCBs (8–43 ng g−1) in soil samples from the forested zone suggest that contamination at most of these sites occurred predominantly through atmospheric transport from zones where these compounds were used and subsequently through atmospheric deposition. Contrarily, soil samples collected in the vicinity of a waste-disposal site near Iassy contained higher mean levels of PCBs (278 ng g−1, range 34–1132 ng g−1) than OCPs (6 and 101 ng g−1 of soil for HCHs and DDTs, respectively). The sediment samples collected along the Bahlui river throughout the Iassy city revealed higher mean levels of PCBs (59 ng g−1, range 24–158 ng g−1) compared with OCP levels (2 and 37 ng g−1 of soil for HCHs and DDTs, respectively). Furthermore, PCB profiles and concentrations in the sediment samples varied considerably along the river due to a wide variety of sources, such as different industries and waste sites. Although their sources are difficult to evaluate, the presence of POPs at most sites (especially at the waste-disposal site) may constitute a potential health hazard.