Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in the Environment of Central Jianghan Plain, China

Abstract

This research was a case study of central Jianghan Plain targeting groundwater as well as river water from Han River, the tributary of Yangtze River. Organochlorine pesticide residues in different aquatic environments and water-soil interface were investigated. River water, groundwater, and soil samples were collected and analyzed. Endrin, Endosulfan2, o, p′ -DDT and Endrin aldehyde were not detected in any water samples. The highest total concentrations were found in Han River water. The residue in the soil profile didn’t follow the same trend in those three boreholes but depth from 10cm to 50cm should be the most active leaching path. Most of the targeted pesticides were not detected in those corresponding wells. Our field study indicated that highly toxic pesticides are still being used locally, and enforcement of regulations to manage pesticide production and application in the study area is urgently needed.

Keywords:

• Organochlorine pesticide
• soil profile
• groundwater
• river water

Acknowledgements

The research work was jointly supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40830748), Department of Environmental Protection of Hubei Province and the Ministry of Education of China (111 project).