Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Composition, Distribution, and Source Apportionment of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) in Soil of a Chemical Industrial Park and its Surrounding in the Northeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Being the third polar region of the earth, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) has a significant impact on the whole earth, especially on the Eurasian environment and ecosystem, making it crucial to understand the environmental changes occurring in the area. However, the exploitation and utilization of mineral resources are affecting the ecosphere of QTP, especially in the farming-pastoral ecotone. More research needs to be conducted on the distribution and sources of persistent organic pollutants in this region. To address this research gap, this study investigates the characteristics of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Ganhe industrial parks (GDIP), located in a farming-pastoral ecotone and the surrounding soils. The study analyzed 22 soil samples collected from two intersections. The findings revealed that hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were the dominant components of the 15 OCPs, accounting for more than 75% of the total OCPs among sampling sites. These compounds had high mean concentrations of up to 2506.3 and 152.7 μg kg−1, respectively. High levels of OCPs were observed in the southeastern and southern regions of GDIP. Agricultural soils were more susceptible to OCP pollution due to frequent agricultural activities compared to grassland. Source apportionment analysis showed that OCPs in the area might primarily comprise lindane (detected in 54.5% of the samples) and dicofol (detected in 86.4% of the samples), implying that these two OCPs could still be in use in this area. Therefore, further investigation into the use and pollution of OCPs in the farming-pastoral ecotone in the northeast of QTP is necessary, and their impact on the ecosystem needs to be evaluated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

References

  • Chen, Y. P., Zhao, Y., Zhao, M. M., Wu, J. H., & Wang, K. B. (2021). Potential health risk assessment of HFRs, PCBs, and OCPs in the Yellow River basin[J]. Environmental Pollution, 275(1), 116648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daly, G. L., Lei, Y. D., Teixeira, C., Muir, D. C., & Wania, F. (2007). Pesticides in western Canadian mountain air and soil[J]. Environmental Science and Technology, 41(17), 6020–6025. https://doi.org/10.1021/es070848o

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding, Y., Li, L., Wania, F., Huang, H. F., Zhang, Y., Peng, B., Chen, Y. J., & Qi, S. H. (2021). Do dissipation and transformation of γ -HCH and p, p’ -DDT in soil respond to a proxy for climate change? Insights from a field study on the eastern Tibetan Plateau[J]. Environmental Pollution, 278, 116824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116824

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, J. L., Zhai, M. X., Liu, Q., Sun, J. H., & Guo, J. J. (2011). Residues of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in upper reach of the Huaihe River, East China[J]. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 74, 2252–2259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2011.08.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, L., Lu, X. B., Tan, J., Zhang, H. J., Zhang, Y. C., Wang, S. Q., & Chen, J. P. (2018). Bioaccumulation and human health risks of OCPs and PCBs in freshwater products of Northeast China[J]. Environmental Pollution, 242(Pt B), 1527–1534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.08.046

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, S., Chu, S., & Xu, X. (2001). Organochlorine pesticide residue in soils from Tibet, China[J]. Bulletin of Environment Contamination and Toxicology, 66(2), 171–177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s0012800221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Geng, C. Y., Koga, M., & Shinohara, R. (2012). Survey and evaluation of organochlorine pesticides in human serum from Huangzhong county, Qinghai province[J]. Journal of Qinghai Medical College, 33(2), 137–142. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-8252.2012.02.017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, H. F., Ding, Y., Chen, W., Zhang, Y., Chen, W. W., Chen, Y. J., Mao, Y., & Qi, S. H. (2019). Two-way long-range atmospheric transport of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) between the Yellow River source and the Sichuan Basin, Western China[J]. Science of the Total Environment, 651, 3230–3240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, H. F., Liu, H. F., Xiong, S., Zeng, F. M., Bu, J. W., Zhang, B., Liu, W., Zhou, H., Qi, S. H., Xu, L., & Chen, W. (2021). Rapid transport of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in multimedia environment from karst area[J]. Science of the Total Environment, 775, 145698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145698

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y. F. (1999). Global technical hexachlorocyclohexane usage and its contamination consequences in environment: From 1948 to 1997[J]. Science of the Total Environment, 232, 123–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(99)00114-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Z. H., Wang, W., Ji, Y. P., Li, W., Han, Y. X., Xu, J. T., Sheng, Y. Q., Shi, Z., & Zhu, L. Z. (2021). A super typhoon disturbs organic contamination in agricultural soils[J]. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 8(3), 237–243. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00963

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, Y., Yun, X. T., Ruan, Z. Y., Lu, C. J., Shi, Y., Qin, Q., Men, Z. M., Zou, D. Z., Du, X. M., Xing, B. S., & Xie, Y. F. (2020). Review of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) contamination in Chinese soils [J]. Science of the Total Environment, 749, 141212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, R. W. (2005). Climate change, risks and contaminants: A perspective from studying the Arctic[J]. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 11, 1099–1104. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807030500346482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meijer, S. N., Ockenden, W. A., Sweetman, A., Breivik, K., Grimalt, J. O., & Jones, K. C. (2003). Global distribution and budget of PCBs and HCB in background surfacesoils: Implications or sources and environmental processes[J]. Environmental Science and Technology, 37, 667–672. https://doi.org/10.1021/es025809l

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalf, R. L. (1973). Century of DDT[J]. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 21, 511–519. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf60188a040

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niu, L. L., Xu, C., Zhu, S. Y., & Liu, W. P. (2016). Residue patterns of currently, historically and never-used organochlorine pesticides in agricultural soils across China and associated health risks[J]. Environmental Pollution, 219, 315–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.10.060

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng, J. Y., Chen, Y. N., Xia, Q., Rong, G. Z., & Zhang, J. Q. (2021). Ecological risk and early warning of soil compound pollutants (HMs, PAHs, PCBs and OCPs) in an industrial city, Changchun, China[J]. Environmental Pollution, 272, 116038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qadeer, A., Liu, S., Liu, M., Liu, X. R., Ajmal, Z., Huang, Y. P., Jing, Y., Khalil, S. K., Zhao, D. D., Du, M. N., Wei, X. Y., & Liu, Y. K. (2019). Historically linked residues profile of OCPs and PCBs in surface sediments of typical urban river networks, Shanghai: Ecotoxicological state and sources[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 231, 1070–1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu, X. H., & Zhu, T. (2010). Using the o, p’-DDT/ p, p’-DDT ratio to identify DDT sources in China[J]. Chemosphere, 81(8), 1033–1038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.08.049

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qu, C. K., Albanese, S., Chen, W., Lima, A., Doherty, A. L., Piccolo, A., Arienzo, M., Qi, S. H., & De Vivo, B. (2016). The status of organochlorine pesticide contamination in the soils of the Campanian Plain, southern Italy, and correlations with soil properties and cancer risk[J]. Environmental Pollution, 216, 500–511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.05.089

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qu, C. K., Albanese, S., Li, J. J., Cicchella, D., Zuzolo, D., Hope, D., Cerino, P., Pizzolante, A., Doherty, A. L., Lima, A., & De Vivo, B. (2019). Organochlorine pesticides in the soils from Benevento provincial territory, southern Italy: Spatial distribution, air-soil exchange, and implications for environmental health[J]. Science of the Total Environment, 674, 159–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.029

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qu, C. K., Xing, X. L., Albanese, S., Doherty, A. L., Huang, H. F., Lima, A., Qi, S. H., & De Vivo, B. (2015). Spatial and seasonal variations of atmospheric organochlorine pesticides along the plain-mountain transect in central China: Regional source vs. long-range transport and air–soil exchange[J]. Atmospheric Environment, 122, 31–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.09.008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, J. C., Xiang, L., Wang, X. X., Ren, H. L., Wei, L. M., & Chen, P. C. (2020). Residual effects of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in an e-waste recycling area compared with heavy metal pollution[J]. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 198, 110651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shu, S. G., & Li, A. Z. (1985). Investigation on HCHs residues in soil and grasses in pastoral area[J]. Journal of Environmental Health, 2(4), 33–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, J. T., Pan, L. L., Li, Z. H., Zeng, Q. T., Wang, L. W., & Zhu, L. Z. (2018). Comparison of greenhouse and open field cultivations across China: Soil characteristics, contamination and microbial diversity[J]. Environmental Pollution, 243, 1509–1516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao, S., Wang, W. T., Liu, W. X., Zhao, Q., Wang, X. L., Wang, R., Wang, B., Shen, G. F., Yang, Y. H., & He, J. S. (2011). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in surface soils from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau[J]. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 13, 175–181. https://doi.org/10.1039/C0EM00298D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turgut, C., Gokbulut, C., & Cutright, T. J. (2009). Contents and sources of DDT impurities in dicofol formulations in Turkey[J]. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 16, 214–217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-008-0083-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP. (2001). Final act of the conference of plenipotentiaries on the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutant [M] (p. 44). Switzerland: United Nations Environment Program, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. P., Ren, J., Gong, P., Wang, C., Xue, Y., Yao, T., & Lohmann, R. (2016). Spatial distribution of the persistent organic pollutants across the Tibetan Plateau and its linkage with the climate systems: A 5-year air monitoring study[J]. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 16, 6901–6911. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. P., Sheng, J. J., Gong, P., Xue, Y. G., Yao, T. D., & Jones, K. C. (2012). Persistent organic pollutants in the Tibetan surface soil: Spatial distribution, air-soil exchange and implications for global cycling[J]. Environmental Pollution, 170, 145–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.06.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. P., Wang, C. F., Zhu, T. T., Gong, P., Fu, J. J., & Cong, Z. Y. (2019). Persistent organic pollutants in the polar regions and the Tibetan Plateau: A review of current knowledge and future prospects[J]. Environmental Pollution, 248(5), 191–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.093

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willett, K. L., Ulrich, E. M., & Hites, S. A. (1998). Differential toxicity and environmental fates of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers[J]. Environmental Science and Technology, 32, 2197–2207. https://doi.org/10.1021/es9708530

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xing, X. L., Mao, Y., Hu, T. P., Tian, Q., Chen, Z. L., Liao, T., Zhang, Z. Q., Zhang, J. Q., Gu, Y. S., Ul Ain Bhutto, S., & Qi, S. H. (2020). Spatial distribution, possible sources and health risks of PAHs and OCPs in surface soils from Dajiuhu Sub-alpine Wetland, central China[J]. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 208, 106393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2019.106393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xing, X. L., Qi, S. H., Zhang, Y., Yang, D., & Odhinmbo, J. O. (2010). Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soils along the eastern slope of the Tibetan Plateau[J]. Pedosphere, 20(5), 607–615. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(10)60050-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, R. Q., Wang, Y. W., Li, A., Zhang, Q. H., Jing, C. Y., Wang, T., Wang, P., Li, Y. M., & Jiang, G. B. (2010). Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in fish from lakes of the Tibetan Plateau and the implications[J]. Environmental Pollution, 158, 2310–2316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2010.02.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao, T. D., Masson-DelmotteV, G. J., Yu, W. S., Yang, X. X., Risi, C., Sturm, C., Werner, M., Zhao, H. B., He, Y., Ren, W., Tian, L. D., Shi, C. M., & Hou, S. G. (2013). A review of climatic controls on δ18 O in precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau, observations and simulations[J]. Reviews of Geophysics, 51, 525–548. https://doi.org/10.1002/rog.20023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, H. Y., Liu, Y. F., Shu, X. Q., Ma, L. M., & Pan, Y. W. (2020). Assessment of the spatial distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in urban soil of China[J]. Chemosphere, 243, 125392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, A. P., Liu, W. P., Yuan, H. J., Zhou, S. S., Su, Y. S., & Li, Y. F. (2011a). Spatial distribution of hexachlorocyclohexanes in agricultural soils in Zhejiang Province, China, and correlations with elevation and temperature[J]. Environmental Science and Technology, 45, 6303–6308. https://doi.org/10.1021/es200488n

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, W. J., Jiang, F. B., Ou, J. F. (2011b). Global pesticide consumption and pollution: with China as a focus[J]. Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Science, 1(2):125-144

  • Zhao, B., Wong, Y. J., Ihara, M., Nakada, N., Yu, Z. Z., Sugie, Y., Miao, J., Tanaka, H., & Guan, Y. T. (2022). Characterization of nitrosamines and nitrosamine precursors as non-point source pollutants during heavy rainfall events in an urban water environment[J]. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 424, 127552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127552

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, W. L., Cai, M. G., Adelman, D., Khairy, M., Lin, Y., Li, Z. H., Liu, H. J., & Lohmann, R. (2022). Legacy halogenated organic contaminants in urban-influenced waters using passive polyethylene samplers: emerging evidence of anthropogenic land-use-based sources and ecological risks[J]. Environmental Pollution, 298, 118854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118854

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Q., Wang, J. J., Meng, B. D., Cheng, J. Q., Lin, G. P., Chen, J. C., Zheng, D., & Yu, Y. H. (2013). Distribution and sources of organochlorine pesticides in agricultural soils from central China[J]. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 93, 163–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.03.029

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our great thanks to Dr. Biao Qi, Dr. Yuanyuan Zhou, and Dr. Lingling Ding for sampling assistance, and Dr. Yichao Wang for MS improving.

Funding

This study was financially supported by Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP) (2019QZKK1003).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Xiaojun Li, Lixia Cao, Wanlong Fu, Zongqiang Gong & Xiangfeng Zeng

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Lixia Cao & Wanlong Fu

  3. Environmental College, Shenyang University, Shenyang, 110044, China

    Xin Lin

  4. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Huajun Fang

  5. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China

    Zhiheng Li

Authors
  1. Xiaojun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lixia Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xin Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wanlong Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zongqiang Gong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiangfeng Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Huajun Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Zhiheng Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design.

Xiaojun Li designed and carried out the experiment and was a major contributor in writing, revising the manuscript.

Lixia Cao performed pretreatment and analysis of collected samples.

Xin Lin took part in the design of this experiment and data analysis.

Wanlong Fu took part in the sample collection and analysis of collected samples.

Zongqiang Gong took part in the design of this experiment and the manuscript MS revising.

Xiangfeng Zeng took part in the design of this experiment and data interpretation.

Huajun Fang took part in the data interpretation and improving the manuscript.

Zhiheng Li took part in the analysis of collected samples and the manuscript revising.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiaojun Li or Zhiheng Li.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 17 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, X., Cao, L., Lin, X. et al. Composition, Distribution, and Source Apportionment of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) in Soil of a Chemical Industrial Park and its Surrounding in the Northeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Water Air Soil Pollut 234, 236 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06242-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06242-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation