Pesticide residues and heavy metals in the Evros river delta, N.E. Greece

Abstract

Abstract Water and sediment samples from six stations of Evros river delta, were collected during different seasons, from August 1992 to July 1993, and were analysed for herbicides, insecticides and heavy metals (sediments). The highest concentrations of herbicides, atrazine, simazine and alachlor, in the water samples from all stations, were detected in August 1992. The same herbicides and organochlorine insecticides, as well as β‐BHC and 4,4'‐DDT, were found in significant amounts in sediments of the river delta. The highest concentrations of the human‐related metals, Cr, Cu and Zn were found in the river sediments during summer, but in the other wetland stations no significant differences were found between seasons. Also, the natural occurring metals (Fe and Mn) did not present important differences between the various areas of the delta, or seasons.