Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in surface soils of Novi Sad and bank sediment of the Danube River

Abstract

The contents of 16 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and six so-called indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in the surface zone (0–5 cm) of soil and sediment samples, taken from different locations in the city of Novi Sad, capitol of Vojvodina Province (North of the Serbia) covering residential and commercial area, recreational and arable zone. The total organochlorine pesticides concentration in soil varied from 2.63 to 31.78 ng g−1 dry weight, while the level in sediment was 10.35 ng g−1 dry weight. Maximum content of identified individual organochlorine pesticide in soil samples was 10.40 ng g−1 dry weight for p, p-DDE in the market garden and 6.31 ng g−1 dry weight for p, p'-DDT in sediment of the Danube River, although their application is restricted in Serbia. Some of investigated PCBs were identified only in the soil samples from a park-school backyard in the city downtown (0.32 ng g−1 dry weight) and market garden (0.22 ng g−1 dry weight), and also in sediment sample from left bank of the Danube River (0.41 ng g−1 dry weight). Data of the OCPs and PCBs present in this study were compared with the ones found for soils and river sediments throughout the world, and with limit values set by soil and sediment quality guidelines. Also, correlation between the levels of certain pesticides and soil characteristics (organic matter, pH and clay content) was investigated.