Determination of OCPs, OPPs, and 21 SVOCs in water and sediment samples in five rivers of Shenzhen, China, during the period of 2017 and 2018

One hundred two semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), including 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 12 organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), were determined in the main rivers of Shenzhen, China. As a result, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), aldrin, and benzoepin sulfate were the main OCPs detected in surface water, and p,p'-DDD, heptachlor, and endrin aldehyde were the main compounds in sediment. In addition, diazinon was the most frequent OPP detected in both water and sediment. At most sites, SVOCs were at similar concentration levels in 2017 and 2018. Compared with other areas, diazinon and malathion had comparative high concentrations in Maozhou River in this study. Analyzed from the SVOCs concentrations in water and sediment, p,p'-DDD was from the quick degradation of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and no recent DDT was input around the investigated area. Besides, the interrelationships among these pollutants were calculated, revealing that OPPs were mainly from the chronically cumulative content, rather than the directly transferring from surface water to sediment. According to the risk assessment, the occurrence of p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDT affected the aquatic community. All in all, further investigations on the occurrence and source of these pollutants are still needed to avoid the potential risk for human beings living around the contaminated environment.

Automated summary

The study identified 102 semivolatile organic compounds in the main rivers of Shenzhen, including organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides, with diazinon being the most frequent compound detected. The concentrations of SVOCs in water and sediment were relatively stable over the years, with organochlorine pesticides primarily coming from the degradation of DDT and organophosphorus pesticides being mainly from cumulative content.