title: Levels and patterns of organochlorine pesticides and their degradation products in rainwater in Kibaha Coast Region, Tanzania.
abstract: The levels and patterns of organochlorine pesticides and degradation products in rainwater samples collected in relation to a contaminated site in Kibaha district, Tanzania were investigated. The compounds detected in the samples by GC-MS and isotope dilution methodology included DDT, DDE, DDD, HCHs, dieldrin, heptachlor, chlordane, endrin and hexachlorobenzene. The concentrations of total DDT and total HCH ranged 0.005-3200μgL(-1) and 0.01-170μgL(-1), respectively and they indicated input of significantly non-degraded technical mixtures. The highest concentrations for other compounds ranged 0.001-1.3μgL(-1). The highest concentrations were found in samples collected in the vicinity of the contaminated site and the concentrations at other points showed a general even distribution suggesting repeated volatilization and deposition mechanisms. The strong positive correlations in the concentrations of the compounds indicated a common source. A decrease in concentrations with time was indicated, although the decrease was not significant during the period of sampling. The findings indicate risks and concerns for public and environmental health.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35061, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Electronic address: johnmahugija@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: John Andrew Marco
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mahugija
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Molecular EXposomics, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henkelmann
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Molecular EXposomics, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg Munich, Germany; Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung und Landnutzung, Department für Biowissenschaften, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350 Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Werner
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Schramm
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry*; D013636:Tanzania
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Atmosphere; Organochlorine pesticides; Rainwater; Tanzania; Vikuge