Residues and possible sources of organochlorine pesticides in surface soil of Urumqi

Twenty-eight soil samples from Urumqi, China were collected and analyzed for 14 organochlorine pesticides(OCPs). The residues and possible sources of organochlorine pesticides(OCPs) in the soil samples were investigated with gas chromatography. The results showed that HCHs, DDTs and methoxychlor were main contaminations. The total OCPs concentrations in surface soils of Urumqi area ranged from 16.40~84.86 μg/kg with a mean of(41.89±16.25) μg/kg. The composition of OCPs indicated that OCPs in soil sample mainly came from historical application. Soil organic carbon was an important factor in the distribution of OCPs. Compared with the reference date and environmental quality standard for soils of China(GB15618-95), the concentrations of HCHs and DDTs in these samples stayed in a low pollution level.