Spatial and temporal variations and possible sources of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites in rivers in Tianjin, China

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 10 - 16
• Main Authors: Tao, S., Li, B.G., He, X.C., Liu, W.X., Shi, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; China; Continental surface waters; DDD (pesticide); DDE (pesticide); DDT; DDT (pesticide); DDT - analysis; DDT - metabolism; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - analysis; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane - analysis; Dicofol; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; factories; Freshwater; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; metabolites; Natural water pollution; organic matter; pesticide industry; point source pollution; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; River water; Rivers; Sediment; sediments; Solid Phase Microextraction; spatial variation; Suspended solids; temporal variation; Tianjin; Time Factors; wastewater; water pollution; Water Pollution, Chemical - analysis; Water treatment and pollution; China; Asia; China, People's Rep; China, People's Rep., Tianjin; Dicofol; Sediment; DDT; River water; Suspended solids; Tianjin; Insecticide; DDE; Metabolite; Spatial variation; Time variation; Persistent organic pollutant; Organochlorine compounds; Stream; Organic compounds; Anthropogenic factor; Pesticides; Sediments; Organic chlorine compounds; Suspended particle; Surface water; Pollution source; Water pollution; Degradation product; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.12.082

Water, suspended solid (SS) and sediment samples were collected from nine water courses in Tianjin, China and analyzed for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites (DDXs, including o, p′-, p, p′-DDT, DDD and DDE). The average DDX concentrations in water, SS and sediment were 59 ± 30 ng l −1, 2690 ± 1940 ng g −1 dry wt. and 340 ± 930 ng g −1 dry wt., respectively. Due to the termination of the extensive agricultural application and industrial manufacture, DDXs in river sediment decreased by one order of magnitude since 1970’s and low DDT fractions in these sediments were observed. Still, DDXs in the sediments near the outlets of the major manufacturers remained relatively high attributed to the historic input. DDXs in sediment were also positively correlated with organic matter content. Spatial distributions of DDXs in SS and water was different from that in sediment. For SS, a negative correlation between DDX concentration and SS content indicated a dilution effect in many rivers. Dissolved organic carbon content was the major factor affecting DDX concentrations in water phase. Wastewater discharged from dicofol manufacturers and likely illegal agricultural application were the primary reasons causing high DDT (DDE + DDD) ratios in SS and water.