Abstract: The level and pattern of residues of organochlorine pesticide and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analyzed in sediment and mussel (Perna
viridis) samples from ten coastal sites along the Pearl River Delta, South
China. The range of total HCH was < 0.01 to 0.29 ng/g freeze-dried weight in
sediment, and < 0.01 to 1.35 ng/g lipid weight in mussels. Average total
DDTs concentrations ranged from < 0.01 to 1.04 ng/g in sediment, and <
0.01 to 148.5 ng/g in mussels. Average total PCB concentrations ranged from
16.4 to 198.6 ng/g in sediment, and from 41 to 729.2 ng/g in mussels.
Organochlorine pesticide and PCBs in mussels and sediments presented similar
distribution patterns. The regression analysis indicated that PCBs
concentrations in mussels were significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with
concentrations in sediments. However, their concentrations in mussels were
several times higher than the concentration detected in surrounding sediments.
The major fraction of DDT related compounds measured in mussels and sediments
was DDD. Based on average PCB concentrations, penta-, hexa-, and
tetrachlorobiphenyls were preferentially accumulated by mussels as compared to
the average sediment composition. According to the present results, three
organochlorine polluted "hot spot" sites, including Victoria Harbour, Lingding
Yang and Huangmao Sea, were found in the Pearl River estuarine zone. HCHs, DDTs
and PCBs in all mussel samples were below the limits of 2, 0.2 and 5.0 μg/g
wet weight recommended by the Technical Group of Guangdong Coastal Zone
Resource Comprehensive Survey and U. S. Food and Drug Administration.
