The pollution and ecological risk of endosulfan in soil of Huai’an city, China

Endosulfan, a persistent organic pollutant newly listed under the Stockholm Convention, is currently widely produced and used as a pesticide in China. Concentrations of endosulfans (including α-, β-isomers, and their metabolite endosulfan sulfate) were determined in surface soil collected from Huai’an city, where the largest endosulfan producer is located. The concentrations of Σendosulfan (sum of α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate) at all sites ranged from 0.28 to 44.81?ng/g dry weight (dw), following a lognormal distribution. The geometric mean was 1.09?ng/g dw, and the geometric standard deviation was 3.02. The β-endosulfan levels were consistently greater than those of α-isomer. The concentration ratios of α-endosulfan to β-endosulfan ranged from 0.03 to 0.70, which were much lower than the commercial endosulfan mixture. This is because that α-endosulfan is more volatile and degrades faster than β-endosulfan in soil. The contour map of Σendosulfan levels in soil indicates that the factory was the point pollution source with the highest endosulfan level in its surrounding area, especially the southern area. However, the non-point agricultural sources are more important. Based on Monte Carlo simulation, the Σendosulfan inventory in soil in Huai’an is estimated to be 0.8–3.0 tons. In order to understand the potential ecological risk of endosulfan, the Monte Carlo-based hazard quotient distribution was estimated and showed that Σendosulfan posed a potentially high risk to soil organisms. To our knowledge, this study is the first that reports soil pollution and risk of endosulfan around the manufacturer in China. This study will help China’s implementation of Stockholm Convention for the reduction and elimination of endosulfan in future.     

Status and effect of pesticide residues in soils under different land uses of Andaman Islands, India

Pesticides are shown to have a great effect on soil organisms, but the effect varies with pesticide group and concentration, and is modified by soil organic carbon content and soil texture. In the humid tropical islands of Andaman, India, no systematic study was carried out on pesticide residues in soils of different land uses. The present study used the modified QuEChERS method for multiresidue extraction from soils and detection with a gas chromatograph. DDT and its various metabolites, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, aldrin, and fenvalerate, were detected from the study area. Among the different pesticide groups detected, endosulfan and DDT accounted for 41.7 % each followed by aldrin (16.7 %) and synthetic pyrethroid (8.3 %). A significantly higher concentration of pesticide residues was detected in rice–vegetable grown in the valley followed by rice–fallow and vegetable–fallow in the coastal plains. Soil microbial biomass carbon is negatively correlated with the total pesticide residues in soils, and it varied from 181.2 to 350.6 mg?kg^?1. Pesticide residues have adversely affected the soil microbial populations, more significantly the bacterial population. The Azotobacter population has decreased to the extent of 51.8 % while actinomycetes were the least affected though accounted for 32 % when compared to the soils with no residue.     

Persistence and behavior of pesticides in cotton production in Turkish soils

Turkey is the sixth largest producer of cotton in the world. Two of the most commonly applied pesticides used in cotton production are trifluralin and endosulfan. Although both are very effective at controlling pests, their persistence in the environment poses risks to human health and the environment. Four loam soils and one silty-loam soil were studied to evaluate the persistence of trifluralin and endosulfan in relation to soil characteristics. Degradation with trifluralin reached as high as 70% of the applied doses. Soils with the highest organic matter content had the lowest degradation rate, indicating a tighter sorption of trifluralin. Endosulfan degradation was a function of soil type and the specific isomer, with β-endosulfan depicting the highest degradation.     

Organochlorine pesticides in the soil of a karst cave in Guilin, China

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) including HCH, DDT, chlordane, endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate were analyzed in surface soil of the Dayan Cave to investigate their source and concentration levels in September 2006. Generally, the data showed that outside soil of the cave had much higher concentrations than inside soil for the most detected OCPs in the cave and both inside soil and outside soil showed much lower concentration levels (basically, the levels of OCPs were less than 0.7 ng/g) than those observed in other regions within and outside China other than TC (ranging from 3.22 to 5.00 ng/g) and CC (ranging from 3.89 to 5.08 ng/g) in the soil outside. The ratios of α-/γ-HCH ranged from 0.88 to 1.20 in the soil of the cave, together with the averaged percentages of β-HCH and δ-HCH among the total HCH isomers (accounting for 39.0% and 14.2%, respectively), implied that a historical residue of local technical HCH contamination was likely to be dominant in the soil of the cave. Based on (1) the accordance of TC/CC ratios (ranging from 0.83 to 0.98) between the values observed in the outside soil and the potentially available chlordane products in the markets, and (2) the high concentrations of TC and CC observed in the outside soil, it appeared that the illegal usage of technical chlordane was done in Guilin. The low concentrations of TC (0.02 to 0.56 ng/g) and CC (0.10 to 1.71 ng/g) in the inside soil, together with the significant distinctions of TC/CC ratios between the inside soil (ranging from 0.03 to 0.33) and the outside soil, implied that the chlordane in the inside soil of the cave was a historical residue of local technical chlordane contamination. The similar ratios of DDT isomers (o,?p (')-DDT/p,?p (')-DDT and p,?p (')-DDE+DDD/DDT) between the outside soil and the inside soil of the cave suggested that they may have the similar DDT source. The ratios of p,?p (')-DDE+DDD/DDT (ranging from 3 to 8) indicated that DDT was relatively aged. The values of o,?p (')-DDT/p,?p (')-DDT ratios (ranging from 3 to 7.5 with a mean value of 5.45) were found to be much higher than that of technical DDT, and very similar to that of dicofol products, implied that the primary source of DDT in the soil of the cave was most probably from dicofol-type DDT products. The low concentration levels of endosulfan and the higher levels of metabolite endosulfan sulfate indicated that the residue from historical usage of technical endosulfan was likely to be dominant in the soil of the cave.     

气相色谱/负离子化学电离质谱法测定地表水中硫丹及其代谢物

采用气相色谱/负离子化学电离质谱法测定地表水中的硫丹及其代谢物,用正己烷提取,外标法定量。α-硫丹、β-硫丹及硫丹硫酸酯在0.200μg/L～10.0μg/L范围内线性良好,方法检出限分别为0.010μg/L、0.008μg/L及0.010μg/L,空白加标平行测定的RSD为3.9%～4.8%,地表水样品加标回收率为85.5%～93.8%。     

Determination of Endosulfans in Soil/Sediment Samples from Point Mugu, Oxnard, California Using Capillary Gas Chromatography/Mass Selective Detection (GC/MSD)

The extent of contamination by endosulfans in soil samples collected from the Point Mugu watershed near Oxnard, California was determined using capillary gas chromatography/mass selective detection (GC/MSD). The study was designed to detect three organochlorinated pesticides: endosulfan , endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate. Thirteen sets of two soil samples each were taken from various sites in the region. Our results show that the endosulfan levels in these soils range from trace amounts to nearly 30 ppm, with endosulfan being the most abundant and endosulfan sulfate the least. Two sites of the study, Hueneme and Revolon and Farm and Revolon, showed high amounts of endosulfans and , with concentrations between 20 and 30 ppm. The majority of the other sites studied in this research produced concentrations of less than 10 ppm for each of the three endosulfans monitored. At five areas in particular, Pleasant Valley and Creek, Laguna and Creek, Etting and Creek, Road and Creek and Hueneme and Creek, less than 2 ppm or only trace amounts of endosulfans , and sulfate were detected.     

Pesticides in rainwater in Flanders, Belgium: results from the monitoring program 1997-2001

In 1997 the Flemish Environmental Agency (FEA) started a monitoring program "Pesticides in Rain in Flanders, Belgium". The original purpose of the monitoring program was to examine the possible occurrence of dichlorvos in rainwater and subsequent deposition. However, it was thought necessary from the beginning to monitor a wide range of pesticides. During the first year some 62 pesticides and metabolites and 9 polychlorinated biphenyls, were monitored at 4 locations. Nowadays the monitoring program has grown up to more than 100 pesticides and metabolites and 11 polychlorinated biphenyls examined at 8 different locations. Rainwater is collected continuously and samples are examined for pesticides and PCB's on a weekly basis. In agreement with other European studies pesticides are found in rainwater samples during times of application. Pesticides which are most frequently detected are [small alpha]-, [small beta]-endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate, [gamma]-HCH (lindane), dichlorvos, atrazine, diuron, DNOC, glyphosate and AMPA and isoproturon. Furthermore it was seen that most pesticides showed a deposition pattern related to local spraying operations.     

Persistent Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Soil and Surface Water of Northern Indo-Gangetic Alluvial Plains

This study reports the concentration levels and distribution pattern of the organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) residues in the soil and surface water samples collected from the northern Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains. A total of 31 soil and 23 surface water samples were collected from the study region in Unnao district covering an area of 2150 km² and analyzed for aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, HCB, HCH isomers, DDT isomers/metabolites, endosulfan isomers (α and β), endosulfan sulfate, heptachlor and its metabolites, α-chlordane, γ-chlordane and methoxychlor. In both the soil and surface water samples β- and δ-isomers of HCH were detected most frequently, whereas, methoxychlor was the least detected pesticide. The results showed contamination of soil and surface water of the region with several persistent organic pesticides. The total OCPs level ranged from 0.36–104.50 ng g^–1 and 2.63–3.72 μg L^–1 in soil and surface water samples, respectively.     

Comparative assessment of pesticide residues in grain, soil, and water from IPM and non-IPM trials of basmati rice

The integrated pest management (IPM) modules of pesticide schedule on Basmati rice were validated at field experiments conducted in Northern India for consecutive 3 years (2005–2008). The pesticide residues were found below the detectable limit (<0.01–0.001 mg/kg) in soil and irrigation water samples of Kaithal region. In Dehra Dun region of Uttrakhand, the residues of carbendazim in rice grains and soil were detected below <0.01 mg/kg level. In second year experiments (2006–2007), only four non-IPM soil samples indicated the presence of chlorpyrifos and endosulfan in the range of ND <0.001 to 0.07 mg/kg, out of 45 samples analyzed. Carbendazim applied as seed treatment at Dehradun and Kaithal field trials was found below detectable limit in both IPM and non-IPM rice grains (<0.01 mg/kg) and irrigation water (0.01 μl/ml). Chlorpyrifos was detected in five water samples from Kaithal and one from Pant Nagar in the range of 0.003–0.006 μl/L, α- and β-isomer of endosulfan in the range of 0.005–0.03, and 0.005–0.02 μl/ml, respectively, in one sample from Pant Nagar and two from Kaithal, out of a total of 22 samples. In the region of Uttrakhand and Uttar Pradesh during 2007–2008, four non-IPM samples of soil indicated trace levels of endosulfan, out of 16 samples analyzed. The residues were detected below detection limit for carbendazim (<0.01 mg/kg) in soil samples of Dehradun IPM fields and for endosulfan and carbendazim (0.001–0.01 μl/L) in water samples each from IPM and non-IPM fields of Uttar Pradesh. The results of 3-year trials of IPM module indicated basmati rice as safe and economical with pesticide residue-free rice grains.     

Rating curve based assessment of seasonal variability of sulfate in streamflow

Though constituent concentrations and loads in rivers exhibit apparent seasonal fluctuations, they are characterized by event-driven nature of the fluctuations in respond to natural processes and seasonal anthropogenic activities. This study aimed at establishing relationship between streamflow and sulfate load in Gin River, the major water source in southern Sri Lanka and assessing seasonal sulfate levels in the streamflow following monsoon pattern and cultivation seasons. Rating curve, a load-streamflow regression model, was developed using adjusted maximum likelihood estimation. Following the assumptions of model fit, the regression model showed low correlation among explanatory variables and good empirical agreement with the measured data exhibiting its applicability to deduce sulfate loads from streamflow data, during non-sampling periods. Sulfate loads, highly dependent on streamflow, peaked annually in April–June (south-west monsoon contributing to Yala cultivation season) and October–December (north-east monsoon contributing to Maha cultivation season), following the bimodal monsoon pattern in the catchment. Median sulfate load exhibited fourfold increase from the lowest value 8,888 kg/day in August (non-cultivation season) to the highest value 38,185 kg/day in November (Maha cultivation season), despite the twofold increase of median streamflow between the two months. Flow-weighted sulfate concentrations showed varying flow dependence attributed to the seasonality. At low streamflows (above 70th percentile), sulfate concentration and streamflow were inversely related and at high streamflows (below 30th percentile), and sulfate concentration and streamflow were directly related. Elevated sulfate concentrations attributed to less soluble sulfate irons were clearly evident during the two cultivation seasons which coincided with the monsoon periods.     

邕江流域有机氯农药残留问题的初步研究

采用固相萃取和GC-ECD对邕江流域水体中17种痕量有机氯农药的残留状况进行分析测定,检测结果表明,邕江干流均检出硫酸硫丹,但有机氯农药浓度较低,均未超过现有相关标准。城市内河残留的有机氯农药以六六六为主,主要来自于长期的历史残留,而硫酸硫丹除朝阳溪和相思湖丰水期未检测到外,均普遍检出。方法检出限为1~5ng/L,替代物加标回收率为103.5%~112.0%。     

加速溶剂萃取-凝胶净化色谱-气相色谱质谱法测定农用地土壤中有机氯农药方法研究

通过对加速溶剂萃取、平行蒸发及净化方法等环节的优化实验,建立了加速溶剂萃取-凝胶净化色谱-气相色谱质谱法测定农用地土壤中23种有机氯农药的检测方法。结果表明,方法检出限为0.0034~0.0052 mg/kg;对化合物质量分数为0.25 mg/kg的土壤加标样品进行平行实验,回收率为82.0%~93.7%;测定结果的相对标准偏差（RSD）≤8.7%。对土壤有证标准质控样品进行分析,测定结果均在验收范围之内。该方法准确可靠,灵敏度较高,样品净化效果较好,能够满足农用地土壤中有机氯农药残留痕量分析的要求。     

Uptake and bioavailability of persistent organic pollutants by plants grown in contaminated soil

This paper assesses the uptake of persistent organic pollutants (POP's) into plants. In particular, uptake of alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate from lettuce. The lettuce plants were grown on compost that had previously been contaminated at 10 and 50 microg g(-1) per POP. The soil was slurry spiked by adding the appropriate amount of POP in acetone in an approximate ratio of 1 ratio 2, w/v soil ratio solvent. The solvent was left to evaporate at ambient temperature for 24 hours. Lettuce plants were grown under artificial daylight for 12 hours a day. The influence of soil ageing on the recovery of POP's from spiked soil samples was also assessed. The average recovery of endosulfan compounds from slurry spiked soil (10, 20 and 40 microg g(-1)) was consistent (92.9 +/- 4.4% for n= 9). However, ageing of endosulfan compounds on the slurry spiked soil resulted in lower recoveries (average losses were 12.5% after 14 days ageing of slurry spiked soil). The uptake of POP's was assessed by measuring the amount of endosulfan compounds in roots and leaves from lettuce plants after 10, 20 and 33 days. In addition, control plants grown in uncontaminated soil were monitored and analysed. It was found that endosulfan compounds were present in the roots of all lettuce plants irrespective of soil spike level or age of plant. In the 33 day lettuce plants where the soil was spiked at the highest level (50 microg g(-1)) endosulfan compounds were determined in the leaves. The root to leaf ratio was found to be 3.1 for alpha-endosulfan, 46.0 for beta-endosulfan, and 24.3 for endosulfan sulfate. Spiked lettuce samples were subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal extraction to assess the bioavailability of endosulfan compounds. No detectable endosulfan compounds were determined in the gastric extracts while small quantities (range 0.06-0.12 microg g(-1)) were found in the intestinal extraction. All samples (soil and lettuce) were extracted using pressurised fluid extraction and analysed using gas chromatography with mass selective detection.     

Assessment of cadmium content of potato grown in Weining County,Guizhou Province,China

A total of 54 soil and 54 potato samples have been collected from Weining County to evaluate the accumulation of cadmium in potatoes. The concentrations of the total Cd and the available Cd in the soil samples have been detected. The total concentrations of Cd were from 0.41 to 10.0 mg/kg with an average value of 2.60 mg/kg in soil. The concentrations of available Cd in the soil were 0.07 to 3.47 mg/kg with an average value of 0.59 mg/kg. The concentration of the available Cd showed a good linear positive correlation with the total Cd content in the soil. For the 54 potato samples, the Cd concentrations were from 0.023 to 0.18 mg/kg with an average value 0.083 mg/kg (fresh weight).The bioconcentration factor (BCF) values of Cd in potatoes, based on dry weight, were from 0.02 to 0.96 with an average value 0.24. The uptake of cadmium by plants is dependent on various soil and environmental factors. A regression model to predict the concentration of cadmium in Weining potatoes based on soil properties and elevation was developed. The results showed the elevation and the soil pH played an important role and had a negative influence on the uptake of Cd by potato in Weining County. The mean intake of Cd by adults through consumption of potato from Weining would be 5.9 μg/day, and it is well below the provisionally tolerable daily intake for Cd (70 μg/day).     

Seasonal trends and potential sources of ambient air OCPs in urban and suburban areas in Dalian, China

A seasonal field campaign by passive sampling was conducted from February 2008 to February 2009, aiming to measure air concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the urban and suburban areas in Dalian. At the urban site, similar annual average concentrations of α-endosulfan and α-HCH were found, both being approximately 4 times as high as those of p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE, while at the suburban site, the annual average concentration of α-endosulfan was 2.9 times as high as the average concentrations of α-HCH, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE; concentrations of α-endosulfan, α-HCH and p,p'-DDE achieved annual peaks in summer. Back trajectory analysis revealed that the air concentration of α-endosulfan increased with the input of air masses from the land whereas decreasing air concentration of α-endosulfan at the urban site was associated with air masses from the sea. Pesticides used in local agriculture were identified to be major sources of α-endosulfan at both the urban and suburban sites, though long-range atmospheric transport from other sources might also contribute to atmospheric levels of this chemical over this coastal city. α-endosulfan, α-HCH, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE in the air in Dalian might result from the atmospheric transport of the air masses from northeast area, Shandong peninsula and Korean peninsula. Emission due to "aged" DDT and HCH in contaminated local soils as well as atmospheric long-range transport were likely to be major sources of α-HCH, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE at the suburban site. In addition, a fresh input of α-HCH and p,p'-DDT in the atmosphere could not be excluded in the urban area.     

Monitoring and risk assessment of pesticides in a tropical river of an agricultural watershed in northern Thailand

The increasing application of pesticides in the uplands of northern Thailand has increased the transfer of pesticides to surface water. To assess the risk of pesticide use for stream water quality, we monitored the concentrations of seven pesticides (atrazine, dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, chlorothalonil, (α-, β-) endosulfan, cypermethrin) frequently used in the Mae Sa watershed (77 km²) in water and sediment samples over a period of one and a half years (2007–2008). All investigated pesticides were recorded in the river. Chlorpyrifos was detected most often in water samples (75 % at the headwater station), while cypermethrin was most often found in riverbed (86 %) and in all suspended sediment samples. The highest concentrations of the pesticides were detected during the rainy season. About 0.002 to 4.1 % by mass of the applied pesticides was lost to surface water. The risk assessment was based on the risk characterization ratio (RCR). The RCRs of dichlorvos in water, (α-, β-) endosulfan, and cypermethrin in water and sediments were higher than unity indicating that they are likely to pose a threat to aquatic ecosystem. Finally, we discuss the role of sampling design on ecotoxicological risk assessment. Our study shows that pesticide contamination of surface waters is an environmental issue in the Mae Sa watershed and that measures need to be undertaken to reduce the loss of pesticides from soil to surface waters.     

Seasonal variation, sources, and gas/particle concentrations of PCBs and OCPs at high altitude suburban site in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey

Daily gas and particle phase samples were collected during winter and summer seasons in Bolu, which is located in the high altitude Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. Samples were analyzed to determine the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Concentrations of endosulfan sulfate and methoxychlor were found to be highest in the summer and winter periods, respectively. The measured average concentration of endrin was considerably higher (10-50 fold) than the values reported in the literature for similar sites. The agricultural areas located to the south, south-east and south-west of the sampling point were identified as source regions. PCBs were found predominantly in the gas phase in both seasons and 3-chlorinated biphenyls were found to be abundant in the winter period, due to pollutants transported from the city centre and a waste incineration plant by southerly and easterly winds. The concentrations of PCB-180 and PCB-194 were found to be higher than values reported in the literature. The correlation between atmospheric concentrations and temperature was obtained by using Clausius-Clapeyron (CC) plots. The CC plots for most of the OCPs showed shallow negative slopes with low r(2) values, which might be due to the presence of local sources, i.e., agricultural areas around the sampling site and the dominance of evaporation. The CC plots showed steep positive slopes for most of the PCB compounds. Most of the PCB compounds were carried from the ongoing local sources.     

Organic pollutants in compost and digestate. Part 2. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and -furans, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances, pesticides, and other compounds

Compost and digestate are important recycling fertilizers and have beneficial effects on soil parameters. However, they can contain significant amounts of organic pollutants. Here, the first comprehensive data set on dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCB), brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, phthalates, nonylphenol and chlorinated paraffins (CP) in source-separated compost and digestate from Switzerland is presented (n = 3-18). The median summation 17PCDD/F and summation 12DL-PCB concentrations were at 3.2 ng I-TEQ kg(-1)dry weight (dw) and 3.0 ng WHO-TEQ kg(-1)dw, respectively. Brominated diphenyl ether 209 (BDE 209) accounted for 72% of the total polyBDE content (10 microg kg(-1)dw). Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) levels were at 100 and 0.51 microg kg(-1)dw, respectively. PFAS were identified for the first time in compost and digestate (median concentration 6.3 microg kg(-1)dw, summation 21compounds). Out of 269 pesticides analysed, 30 fungicides, 14 herbicides, eight insecticides and one acaricide were detected. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) median concentration accounted for 280 microg kg(-1)dw and nonylphenol was below the detection limit of 1 mg kg(-1)dw. The sum of short and medium chain CP was between 90 and 390 microg kg(-1)dw. The concentrations observed were at or above the levels found in background soils, which are the main recipient of compost and digestate. Where actually applied, compost can contribute considerably to the total input of organic pollutants to the soil. However, on a total Swiss agricultural area base, inputs seem to be limited.     

Residues of endosulfan in the livers of wild catfish from a cotton growing area

Residues of endosulfan insecticide (-and -isomers, and endosulfan sulphate) were determined in the livers of catfish from a cotton growing area during the summer and winter of 1988. The concentration of total endosulfan residues found in the fish was up to 0.31 mg kg^-1 wet wt. It decreased in winter with a maximum 0.02 mg kg^-1 wet wt. The difference in endosulfan residues between seasons was statistically significant (ANOVA,p<0.01).     

Selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface soils from three major states from the northeastern part of India

Eighty-two surface soil samples were collected from forest, grassland, tea estate, wildlife sanctuary, wetland, and roadside areas from the northeastern states of India, viz., Tripura, Manipur, and Assam. Thirteen different organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were detected from background soils using gas chromatography electron capture detector. Manipur soils were found to be with higher concentration of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and endosulfan followed by Tripura and Assam. The spearman correlation coefficient shows significant correlation between HCHs, DDTs, and endosulfan isomers (r ²?>?0.5 and p?<?0.05). Additionally, α-HCH, δ-HCH, o,p′-DDE, and endosulfan-sulfate shows good correlation with total organic carbon in soil (r ²?=?0.5, p?=?0.05), indicating that the soil organic matter could enhance adsorption of these compounds, also demonstrating that the present OCPs in the background soil were from similar source. Further principal component analysis evaluates that most of the higher volatile compounds where clustered together in soil. However, after comparing with different states of Indian soil samples, the concentrations of OCPs in the present study areas are much lower and comparable with background soil across the globe.