Comparison of using polyurethane foam passive samplers and tree bark samples from Western China to determine atmospheric organochlorine pesticide

Polyurethane foam（PUF）passive samplers were deployed and tree bark samples were collected at 15 sites across western China in 2013,and the organochlorine pesticide（OCP）concentrations in the samples were determined.Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its degradation products（collectively called DDTs）,hexachlorocyclohexanes（HCHs）,and hexachlorobenzene（HCB）were the dominant OCPs in the PUF samples and tree bark samples.The mean DDTs,HCHs and HCB concentrations were 33,22 and 18 ng/sample in the PUF samples,and 428,74,and 43 ng/（g lipid weight（lw））in the tree bark,respectively.The OCP concentrations in the air,calculated using PUF–air and tree-bark–air partitioning models,were of the same order of magnitude.Both sample types showed that relatively fresh inputs of DDT and HCHs to the environment have occurred in western China.Meanwhile,PUF passive samplers were compared with the use of tree bark samples as passive samplers.The OCP compositions in the PUF and tree bark samples were different.Only the relatively stable OCPs（such as HCB,β-HCH and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloro-ethylene（DDE））were consistent in the PUF and tree bark samples.

Influence of dissolved organic carbon on multimedia distribution and toxicity of fipronil and its transformation products in lotic waterways

Environmental fate and ecological impacts of fipronil and its transformation products(FIPs)in aquatic environment have caused worldwide attention,however,the influence of dissolved organic carbon(DOC)on multimedia distribution,bioavailability,and toxicity of FIPs in field waterways was largely unknown.Here,we collected 11 companion water and sediment samples along a lotic stream in Guangzhou,South China.FIPs were ubiquitous with total water concentrations ranging from 1.22 to 43.2 ng/L(14.8±12.9 ng/L)and fipronil sulfone was predominant in both water and sediment.More than 70%of FIPs in aqueous phase were bound to DOC and the KDOC values of FIPs were approximately 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than K_(d-s)/K_(OC),emphasizing the significance of DOC in phase partitioning and transport of FIPs in aquatic environment.Water and sediment samples were more toxic to Chironomus dilutus than Hyallela azteca,and FIPs(especially fipronil sulfone)pronouncedly contributed toxicity to C.dilutus.Toxic units(TU)based on freely dissolved concentrations in water determined by solid phase microextraction significantly improved toxicity estimation of FIPs to the invertebrates compared to TUs based on aqueous concentrations.The present study highlights the significance of DOC association on fate and ecological risk of hydrophobic insecticides in lotic ecosystem.

Air–soil exchange of organochlorine pesticides in a sealed chamber

So far little is known about air–soil exchange under any sealed circumstances（e.g., in plastic and glass sheds）, which however has huge implications for the soil–air–plant pathways of persistent organic pollutants including organochlorine pesticides（OCPs）. A newly designed passive air sampler was tested in a sealed chamber for measuring the vertical concentration profiles of gaseous phase OCPs（hexachlorocyclohexanes（HCHs） and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes（DDTs））. Air was sampled at 5, 15, and 30 cm above ground level every 10 th day during a 60-day period by deploying polyurethane foam cylinders housed in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene-covered cartridges. Concentrations and compositions of OCPs along the vertical sections indicated a clear relationship with proximity to the mixture of HCHs and DDTs which escapes from the soils. In addition, significant positive correlations were found between air temperatures and concentrations of HCHs and DDTs. These results indicated revolatilization and re-deposition being at or close to dynamic pseudo-equilibrium with the overlying air. The sampler used for addressing air–soil exchange of persistent organic pollutants in any sealed conditions is discussed.