Monitoring and Distribution of Organochlorine Pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface River Water and Suspended Particulate Matter

The monitoring results of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Ukranian and world surface river waters were summarized. Total concentrations of OCPs, PCBs and PAHs in surface waters of Ukrainian rivers (Dnieper and Dniester) were 1.4-17.1; 2.8-57.2; 7.5-378.6 ng/dm(3), respectively. These pollution levels are medium on a global scale. Higher concentrations were recorded in the surface water of China, India and other Asian countries. Distribution of these organic ecotoxicants between water and suspended particulate matter (dispersionphase distribution) was analyzed and it was shown that in the majority of river waters >= 50% of them are associated with suspended particles. By the case of River Dnieper antibate correlations between water-soluble parts of individual OCPs, PCBs and PAHs and coefficient of their hydrophobicity were recorded. These correlations were presented graphically. In addition, relevant correlation coefficients and criterions of probability were calculated. The clearest correlation was established for PCBs.