Occurrence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in suspended particle matters (SPMs) and surface sediments of the south bank of the Yangtze estuary

Organochlorine pesticides in 14 samples in suspended particle matters and surface sediments of the south bank of the Yangtze estuary were determined by GC-ECD, and the concentration levels and distribution of HCHs and DDTs were analyzed in detail. The content levels of OCPs tended to be DDTs>HCHs, and characterized by higher concentration levels in SPMs and lower in surface sediments. The distribution of HCHs in SPMs ranged from 6.24 to 14.75 ng/g, with an average value of 12.27 ng/g and 3.36~25.66 ng/g in concentration level for DDTs, with a mean value 16.37 ng/g; the contents of HCHs varied from 1.19 to 8.22 ng/g in the surface sediments, with an average of 5.92 ng/g; the content level of DDTs was 4.96~14.94 ng/g with an average of 8.92 ng/g. The contents of OCPs in the study area were lower than the ER-M value with potential harm on the environmental organisms.