Assessing environmental fate of β-HCH in Asian soil and association with environmental factors

Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Sep 4;46(17):9525-32. doi: 10.1021/es302017e. Epub 2012 Aug 23.

Abstract

Chinese Gridded Pesticide Emission and Residue Model was applied to simulate long-term environmental fate of β-HCH in Asia spanning 1948-2009. The model captured well the spatiotemporal variation of β-HCH soil concentrations across the model domain. β-HCH use in different areas within the model domain was simulated respectively to assess the influence of the different sources of β-HCH on its environment fate. A mass center of soil residue (MCSR) was introduced and used to explore environmental factors contributing to the spatiotemporal variation of β-HCH soil residue. Results demonstrate that the primary emission dominates β-HCH soil residues during the use of this pesticide. After phase-out of the pesticide in 1999, the change in β-HCH soil residues has been associated with the Asian summer monsoon, featured by northward displacement of the MCSR. The displacement from several major sources in China and northeastern Asia shows a downward trend at a 95% confidence level, largely caused by environmental degradation and northward delivery of β-HCH under cold condition in northern area. The MCSRs away from the India and southern and southeastern Asia sources show a rapid northward displacement at a 99% confidence level, featuring the cold trapping effect of the Tibetan Plateau.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asia
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Hexachlorocyclohexane / analysis*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Pesticides / analysis*
  • Seasons
  • Soil / analysis*
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*

Substances

  • Pesticides
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Hexachlorocyclohexane
  • beta-hexachlorocyclohexane