Release of hexachlorocyclohexanes from historically and freshly contaminated soils in China: implications for fate and regulation.
Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were produced and used in large quantity worldwide and are common soil pollutants. In this study, desorption of alpha-HCH and gamma-HCH from two soil samples collected from a historical pesticide plant in Tianjin, China, was examined. As a comparison, desorption of freshly sorbed gamma-HCH was examined, using five typical Chinese soils. Strong resistant desorption was observed for both historically contaminated and freshly contaminated soils, and desorption results were well modeled with a biphasic desorption isotherm. The unique thermodynamic characteristics associated with the desorption-resistant fraction indicated that physical constraint within soil organic matrices was likely the predominant mechanism controlling resistant desorption. Resistant desorption could have significant effects on fate and exposure of HCHs in soil environment. More accurate biphasic desorption models that take into account of the resistant desorption can be used to facilitate regulating, management and remediation of HCH-contaminated sites.
Duan
Lin
L
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Wei Jin Road 94, Tianjin 300071, China.
Zhang
Nan
N
Wang
Yu
Y
Zhang
Chengdong
C
Zhu
Lingyan
L
Chen
Wei
W
D000383:Agriculture; D002681:China; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis*; D016014:Linear Models; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
D007306:Insecticides; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C040534:alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane