Sources and Health Risk of Organochlorine Pesticides in Surface Water from Buerhatong River and Hunchun River in Northeast China

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were widely used in agriculture and disease control, which causes potential harm to eco-environment and human health, and the OCP pollution is closely related to past or current human activities. A total of 27 surface water samples were collected from two rivers with different human interference intensity, and 13 OCPs were analyzed. The study results showed that the mean concentrations of OCPs in Buerhatong River (BR) and Hunchun River (HR) were 780.45 ng L(-1)and 900.69 ng L-1, respectively. On the basis of environmental quality standards of China, the concentrations of DDTs, heptachlor epoxide, and gamma-HCH were lower than standard values, but the maximum concentration of gamma-HCH in HR (1923.26 ng L-1) is close to the standard limit, showing a potential risk to the aquatic environment. And there are significant differences in residues of OCPs between two tributaries due to the different human activities. DDTs and HCHs are the main components of OCPs, and the DDTs in BR were mostly derived from historical use residues, whereas HR might have recent DDT use input. And BR had a good water environment with high dissolved oxygen, but there are some anaerobic sections in HR. The HCHs in BR are mainly the historical residues, except for one site, which might have lindane input in the environment, and there also might be recent imports of lindane in the HR basin. The health risk assessment results showed that there was no adverse health effects for non-carcinogenic risk. But carcinogenic risk caused by dermal contact for adults had moderate risk in two sites of the studied rivers. The study of the impact of human activities on the residues of organochlorines in surface water is of great significance to the prevention and control of organochlorine pesticide pollution in the water environment and the protection of the ecological environment and the health of the population, especially for adults.

Automated summary

The study analyzed the residues of organochlorine pesticides in two rivers, revealing different pollution levels in each river and assessing the impact of human activities on the residues of organochlorines in the environment, highlighting potential health risks and environmental risks.