Pesticides in precipitation from an urban region in Poland (Gda'nsk-Sopot-Gdynia Tricity) between 1998 and 2000

Selected organonitrogen, organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides have been determined in precipitation samples collected at ten sites in the Gdansk region (northern Poland) over a period of three years (1998-2000). The following compounds were detected the most frequently: simazine (1-58 ng L-1), atrazine (1-44), propazine (1-21), fenitrothion (1-21 ng L-1), chlorfenvinfos (1-13 ng L-1), alpha-HCH (1-12 ng L-1), p,p'DDT (1-10 ng L-1), o,p'DDE (1-6 ng L-1) and o,p'DDD (1-6 ng L-1). The pesticide concentrations in precipitation samples revealed seasonal fluctuations, with higher concentrations observed during the application periods (June and July). The concentrations observed were also affected by the inflow of polluted air masses from the southwest. The total pesticide concentration in the precipitation samples was strongly related to the abundance of green areas in the vicinity of the sampling sites. A weak correlation was also found between the total concentration of organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides, and the total concentration of organochlorine pesticides in the samples collected.