Presence of Semi-Volatile Organic Contaminants in Shallow Groundwater of Selected Regions in China

A pioneering investigation of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in shallow groundwater in China was hereby reported. Representative groundwater samples were collected from three selected regions: Eastern Hai River Plain, Yangtze River Delta, and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and analyzed for 103 SVOCs linked to agricultural and industrial practices. Analytical results showed that 70 of the 103 SVOCs were present in the groundwater samples, a detection frequency of approximately 86%. Compounds detected most frequently included P,P-DDT (53.49%, MDL 0.0007 mu g/L), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (51.16%, MDL 0.02 mu g/L), and phenol (51.16%, MDL 0.02 mu g/L). Fifteen SVOCs, such as P,P-DDT, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, heptachlor, and aldrin, were detected at concentrations exceeding the USA National Recommended Water Quality Criteria-2009 (USNRWQC-2009). Most of these 15 SVOCs belong to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides. The detection of SVOCs in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau warrants special concern, since this region has limited human activities and been assumed as an environmentally pristine area. The data from this work are expected to contribute to the database of contemporary groundwater quality in China.