Abstract
Levels, fate, and potential sources of 22 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in coral tissues and the surrounding air-seawater system from the South China Sea (SCS) were elucidated first time. ∑22OCPs (total concentration of 22 OCPs) (16.1 – 223 pg L−1) was relatively high in coastal seawater than in offshore seawater, which may be the widespread influence from nearshore pollution inputs under the western boundary current. The atmospheric ∑22OCPs were predominantly distributed in the gas phase (48.0 – 2264 pg m−3) and were mainly influenced by continental air mass origins. The air-seawater exchange of selected OCPs showed that OCPs tended to migrate from the atmosphere to seawater. The distribution of ∑22OCPs in coral tissues (0.02 – 52.2 ng g-1 dw) was significantly correlated with that in air samples, suggesting OCPs may have a migration pattern of atmosphere-ocean-corals in the SCS. Corals exhibited higher bioaccumulation ability (Log BAFs: 2.42 – 7.41) for OCPs. Source analysis showed that the new application of technical Chlordanes (CHLs) was primarily responsible for the current levels of CHLs in the surrounding environment over the SCS, while historical residues were the primary sources of other OCPs.
