Distribution, sources and ecological risks of organochlorine compounds (DDTs, HCHs and PCBs) in surface sediments from the Pearl River Estuary, China

Abstract

The Pearl River Estuary is an important sink of organochlorine compounds (OCs), and OC pollution levels in surface sediments remain largely unknown at present. We collected and analysed residual DDTs, HCHs and PCBs of 45 surface sediments from the Pearl River Estuary in 2017. The values of DDTs (1.83 to 6.98 ng·g^-1) and HCHs (0.43 to 2.14 ng·g^-1) were higher in the Humen outlet, and the values of PCBs (4.6 to 187.4 ng·g^-1) were higher in the coastal areas of Shenzhen. The DDTs and HCHs have generally decreased while the PCBs have been rapidly increasing in recent decades. The DDTs might originate from technical DDT and dicofol. The major source of HCHs was lindane. The main potential sources of PCBs were increased industrial products, ship painting, E-waste disassembly, maricultural and agricultural pollution. The total PCBs and DDTs had medium ecological risks according to the sediment quality guidelines.

Keywords: Distribution; Ecological risk assessment; Organochlorine compounds (DDTs, HCHs and PCBs); Pearl River Estuary; Potential source apportionment; Surface sediments.