Organochlorine pesticides in soil, water and sediment along the Jinjiang River mainstream to Quanzhou Bay, southeast China

Residue levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in multiple compartments (water, soil and sediment) along the Jinjiang River mainstream to Quanzhou Bay were monitored to elucidate sources and fate. The concentrations of OCPs in surface soil of the watershed of the Jinjiang River (2.44±1.97 ng/g for hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and 11.4±8.46 ng/g for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs)) and the Quanzhou Bay (1.81±2.15 ng/g for HCHs and 9.72±14.66 ng/g for DDTs) were comparable. The concentrations of HCHs and DDTs in dissolved phase were 55–94% for the total HCHs and ten to sixteen percent for the total DDTs in the Jinjiang River. High correlations of OCPs between suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment (p<0.01) were found in this study, which demonstrated that OCPs absorbed onto SPM was the major source in the sediment of Quanzhou Bay. The use of lindane was the major source of HCHs in the study region. Dicofol pollution was found in water of the Jinjiang River and sediment of Quanzhou Bay. Based on the sediment quality guidelines, DDTs pose more ecotoxicological risk in environment of the Jinjiang River and Quanzhou Bay.

► We monitor the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in multiple compartments.
► OCPs are determined between the continent and adjacent bay.
► We discuss the correlations of OCPs between different media to find transport. We discuss the potential sources of OCPs in this study region.
► We assess the ecosystem risks in multiple compartments in the study area.