Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Organchlorine Pesticides (Ocps) Based on a Large Region-Scale Characterization of Ocps in Freshwater Sediments and Multiple Aquatic Foods in China

A comprehensive profile that integrates a wide spectrum of organchlorine pesticides (OCPs) analysis in both freshwater sediments and multiple aquatic foods in China is lacking. To acquire this data, we investigated the recent status of OCP contamination in sediments and five types of aquatic foods that were collected from various regions in China. A total of 19 OCPs were analyzed. The mean levels of OCPs were 32.12 µg/kg in sediments and 31.28 µg/kg in aquatic foods, respectively. The dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were the most abundant OCPs in sediments and most aquatic foods and were likely predominantly derived from their historical usage. Several OCP residues in sediments may pose an ecological risk, since especially the levels of 2,4'-DDT and β-BHC and the level of 4,4'-DDE were significantly correlated with their occurrence in crabs and fish, respectively. Therefore, continuous attention should be paid to OCP pollution in aquatic ecosystem. On the other hand, risk assessment based on the Hazard Quotient (HQ) method combined with the most recent consumption data of aquatic foods in China suggested that no urgent risk management for human health is needed regarding the exposure of OCPs in Chinese population