Trace analysis of persistent toxic substances in the main stream of Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River, China.
OBJECTIVE
The Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River is the downstream of the whole river, serving as an important drinking water source. Persistent toxic substances (PTS), from the industries such as automobile, textile, chemical, and electronic production, are not listed in the National Standard yet and not monitored and controlled. However, pollution of PTS can threaten the environment and human health. In order to understand the pollution status of the PTS contamination and recommend future rationalization of countermeasure, the PTS including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), and phthalates (PAEs) were investigated.


METHODS
Samples were collected at 15 sites from five main stream sections of the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province. PTS were extracted using solid phase extract method. The analysis of OCPs, PCBs was performed using GC/ECD and PAHs, PAEs was performed by GC/MS.


CONCLUSIONS
The method detection limits are low and the recoveries are from 58.1% to 110.3%. The total concentrations of OCPs, PCBs, PAHs, and PAEs were 0.27∼2.15 ng l(-1), <0.21∼44.4 ng l(-1), 0.012∼3.576 μg l(-1) and 0.178∼1.474 μg l(-1), respectively. γ-HCH, PCB28, PCB101, phenanthrene, anthracene, di-n-butyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate are the major detected PTS. The concentration of most of the PTS was below the environmental quality standards for surface water of China.


CONCLUSIONS
The pollution status of OCPs, PCBs, PAHs, and PAEs were analyzed. PTS contamination levels of the five main stream sections were relatively low.
School of the Environment, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
Huan
H
He
Guan-Jiu
GJ
Hu
Cheng
C
Sun
Su-Lan
SL
Chen
Ming-Na
MN
Yang
Juan
J
Li
Yong
Y
Zhao
Hui
H
Wang
D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C032279:phthalic acid; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls