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Contamination of organochlorine pesticides in water and sediments from a waterbird-inhabited lake, East Central China

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Abstract

Seventeen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were investigated in the water and sediments from a waterbird-inhabited lake (Yangchaihu Lake) to evaluate their current pollution levels and potential risks. The concentrations of total OCPs in water and sediments were 10.12–59.75 ng/l and 4.25–27.35 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were the most abundant OCPs, while HCB and cyclodiene pesticides were detected with low levels. Levels of ∑OCPs (sum of 17 OCPs) at sites highly influenced by waterbirds were significantly higher than the sites with no significant waterbird populations (one-way ANOVA, P < 0.05), suggesting that bird activities were one reason for concentration distribution of these pollutants. Compositional and source analyses of OCPs in water and sediments indicated that there might be fresh introduction of lindane and heptachlor. The partitions of most OCPs were not in equilibrium between water and sediments. The results of an ecological risk assessment showed that residue levels of DDTs in the studied area might pose adverse effects on ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41073070 and 41103065) and the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, China (No. 20090145110004). The authors are grateful to acknowledge the staff in Wildlife Protection Centers, Hubei and Honghu Wetland Nature Reserve for their help. The authors also would like to appreciate the reviewers for their suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Ying Hu & Shihua Qi

  2. School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Ying Hu, Linxi Yuan, Shihua Qi, Hongxia Liu & Xinli Xing

  3. Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, People’s Republic of China

    Hongxia Liu

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  1. Ying Hu
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  2. Linxi Yuan
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Correspondence to Xinli Xing.

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Hu, Y., Yuan, L., Qi, S. et al. Contamination of organochlorine pesticides in water and sediments from a waterbird-inhabited lake, East Central China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 9376–9384 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2831-x

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