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Abstract
Fifty-five surface sediment samples covering virtually the entire Bohai Sea (Bohai)
were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), in order to provide the extensive
information of recent occurrence levels, distribution, possible sources and potential
biological risk of these compounds in this area. Concentrations of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes
(DDTs) and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) in Bohai ranged widely from 0.24 to 5.67ngg(-1)
(mean 1.36+/-0.93ngg(-1)) and 0.16 to 3.17ngg(-1) (mean 0.83+/-0.57ngg(-1)), respectively.
High concentrations of DDTs were observed in the coastal areas especially at the isolated
sites neighboring the harbor or port regions. The recent DDT inputs could be mainly
attributed to the agricultural activity (e.g. dicofol), wastewater of chemical plants
and the usage of antifouling paint. The distribution pattern of HCHs was different
from that of DDTs due to their different physical-chemical properties and amounts
of production and usage in the past. (DDE+DDD)/DDT ratios indicated that the degradation
of the parent DDT occurred significantly. The contributions of previous and current
inputs of pesticides in the coastal areas were distinguished by means of principal
component analysis, suggesting that the recent usage of DDT and technical chlordane
could serve as important fresh input sources for OCPs. DDTs and chlordanes are the
two-main species of OCPs with more ecotoxicological concern in Bohai.