Skip to main content
Log in

Occurrence and characterization of selected organochlorine contaminants in outdoor dust collected from Xinxiang, a fast developing city in North China

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As facile “environmental media”, the outdoor dust may reflect the changes of contaminants in environment more promptly. In the present study, selected organochlorine contaminants (OCs) include hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) were detected in 20 outdoor dust samples collected from Xinxiang City. The concentrations of ΣHCHs, ΣDDTs, HCB, and PeCB in dust were in the range of 0.18–5.05 ng/g dry weight, 0.44–13.50 ng/g dry weight, 0.13–51.61 ng/g dry weight and ND-0.74 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Long-range transport, historical use, and recent impact of impure pesticides might be the main sources of OCs in the outdoor dust. The results of this study indicated that impure pesticide application maybe an important source of DDTs and HCB in the environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailey, R. E. (2007). Pentachlorobenzene—sources, environmental fate and risk characterization. http://www.eurochlor.org/upload/documents/document260.pdf. Accessed 18 Aug 2010.

  • Ballschmitter, K., Braunmiller, I., Niemczyk, R., & Swerev, M. (1988). Reaction pathways for the formation of PCDD and PCDF in combustion processes: II. Chlorobenzenes and chlorophenols as precursors in the formation of polychloro-dibenzodioxins and - dibenzofurans in flame chemistry. Chemosphere, 17, 995–1005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barber, J. L., Sweetman, A. J., Wijk, D., & Jones, K. C. (2005). Hexachlorobenzene in the global environment: emissions levels, distribution, trends and processes. Science of the Total Environment, 349, 1–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, D. R., Rockne, K. J., Li, A., & Mills, W. J. (2004). Soot deposition in the Great Lakes: implications for semi-volatile hydrophobic organic pollutant deposition. Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 1732–1739.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai, Q. Y., Mo, C. H., Wu, Q. T., Katsoyiannis, A., & Zeng, Q. Y. (2008). The status of soil contamination by semivolatile organic chemicals (SVOCs) in China: a review. Science of the Total Environment, 389, 209–224.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dai, T. Y., Zhu, X. H., Meng, W., Yu, Y. J., Wang, W., et al. (2008). Could gingko foliage serve as a bio-monitor for organochlorine pesticides in air. Science in China Series B-Chemistry, 51, 1093–1101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dirtu, A. C., & Covaci, A. (2010). Estimation of daily intake of organohalogenated contaminants from food consumption and indoor dust ingestion in Romania. Environmental Science and Technology, 44, 6297–6304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, S., Chu, S. G., & Xu, X. B. (2001). Organochlorine pesticide residue in soils from Tibet, China. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 66, 171–177.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, S., Li, K., Yang, Z. Z., & Xu, X. B. (2008a). Composition, distribution, and characterization of organochlorine pesticides in sandstorm depositions in Beijing, China. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 193, 343–352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, S., Li, K., Yang, Z. Z., & Xu, X. B. (2008b). Contamination status of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in sandstorm depositions from Beijing and the origination region. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 81, 196–199.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, S., Cheng, H. X., Liu, Y. H., & Xu, X. B. (2009). Levels and distribution of organochlorine pesticides in various media in a mega-city, China. Chemosphere, 75, 588–594.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaga, K., & Dharmani, C. (2003). Global surveillance of DDT and DDE levels in human tissues. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 16, 7–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kannan, K., Battula, S., Loganathan, B. G., Hong, C. S., Lam, W. H., et al. (2003). Trace organic contaminants, including toxaphene and trifluralin, in cotton field soils from Georgia and South Carolina, USA. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 45, 30–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R. G., Fortmann, R. C., & Camann, D. E. (1994). Evaluation of methods for monitoring the potential exposure of small children to pesticides in the residential environment. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 26, 37–46.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lv, J., Shi, R., Cai, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, Z., Feng, J., et al. (2010). Assessment of 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) pollution in suburban soil in Tianjin, China. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 85, 137–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meijer, S. N., Ockenden, W. A., Sweetman, A., Breivik, K., Grimalt, J. O., & Jones, K. C. (2003). Global distribution and budget of PCBs and HCB in background surface soils: implications or sources and environmental processes. Environmental Science and Technology, 37, 667–672.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakata, H., Hirakawa, Y., Kawazoe, M., Nakabo, T., Arizono, K., et al. (2005). Concentrations and compositions of organochlorine contaminants in sediments, soils, crustaceans, fishes and birds collected from Lake Tai, Hangzhou Bay and Shanghai city region, China. Environmental Pollution, 133, 415–429.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu, X. H., Zhu, T., Jing, L., Pan, H. S., Li, Q. L., Miao, G. F., et al. (2004). Organochlorine pesticides in the air around the Taihu Lake, China. Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 1368–1374.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu, X., Zhu, T., Yao, B., Hu, J., & Hu, S. (2005). Contribution of dicofol to the current DDT pollution in China. Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 4385–4390.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roots, O., Roose, A., Kull, A., Holoubek, I., Cupr, P., & Klanova, J. (2010). Distribution pattern of PCBs, HCB and PeCB using passive air and soil sampling in Estonia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 17, 740–749.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SEPA. (2007). China′s National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; 2007.

  • Tan, J., Cheng, S. M., Loganath, A., Chong, Y. S., & Obbard, J. P. (2007). Selected organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl residues in house dust in Singapore. Chemosphere, 68, 1675–1682.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA, (1998). Memorandum 2/26/98 assessment of the dietary cancer risk of hexachlorobenzene and pentachlorobenzene as impurities in chlorothalonil, PCNB, picloram, and several other pesticides. DP Barcode D243499. Chemical codes 061001 (Hexachlorobenzene) & 081901 (Chlorothalonil). http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/endosulfan/hexachlorobenzene_endo.PDF. Accessed 2 October 2007.

  • Wang, H., He, M., Lin, C., Quan, X., Guo, W., et al. (2007). Monitoring and assessment of persistent organochlorine residues in sediments from the Daliaohe River Watershed, Northeast of China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 133, 231–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, G., Lu, Y. L., Han, J. Y., Luo, W., Shi, Y. J., Wang, T. Y., et al. (2010). Hexachlorobenzene sources, levels and human exposure in the environment of China. Environment International, 36, 122–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, R., Gaus, C., Tysklind, M., Johnston, P., Forter, M., Hollert, H., et al. (2008). Dioxin- and POP-contaminated sites—contemporary and future relevance and challenges. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 15, 363–293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, D. B., Kameya, T., & Urano, K. (2007). Environmental management of pesticidal POPs in China: past, present and future. Environment International, 33, 894–902.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO-IPCS (World Health Organization – International Programme on Chemical Safety). (1997). Hexachlorobenzene, Environmental Health Criteria 195. World Health Orgaization, Geneva, Switzerland. http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc195.htm. Accessed 18 Aug 2010.

  • Zhang, Z. L., Huang, J., Yu, G., & Hong, H. S. (2004). Occurrence of PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Tonghui River of Beijing, China. Environmental Pollution, 130, 249–261.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., Lu, Y., Dawson, R. W., Shi, Y., & Wang, T. (2005). Classification and ordination of DDT and HCH in soil samples from the Guanting Reservoir, China. Chemosphere, 60, 762–769.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Doctor Scientific Research Start-up Foundation of Xinxiang Medical University (09BSKYQD-006).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhongzhi Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, Y., Yang, Z., Kong, X. et al. Occurrence and characterization of selected organochlorine contaminants in outdoor dust collected from Xinxiang, a fast developing city in North China. Environ Monit Assess 184, 3085–3094 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2173-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2173-9

Keywords

Navigation