Distribution of organochlorine pesticides in soils of Dashiwei Karst Tiankeng (giant doline) area in South China

Surface soil samples were collected in two karst Tiankengs, Dashiwei and Datuo, situated within the Dashiwei Tiankeng group, located in Leye County of Guangxi province, South China. The soil samples were analyzed for 23 kinds of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) using a gas chromatography electron capture detector device. The results showed that the concentrations of OCPs in soils of Dashiwei Tiankeng ranged from 0.03 to 5.13 ng/g for total OCPs, not detectable (ND) to 0.22 ng/g for Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs), and 0.01 to 3.61 ng/g for Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and metabolites (DDTs). Concentration of the total OCPs in soils of Datuo Tiankeng ranged from 0.13 to 14.36 ng/g, ND to 0.39 ng/g for HCHs, and 0.01 to 3.28 ng/g for DDTs. These concentrations indicated that there could be new inputs of HCHs and DDTs from recent application of lindane and dicofol in this area. Further analysis also revealed that the concentration of OCPs at the bottom of both Tiankengs was higher than the top. The variability in concentrations between the top and the bottom was attributed to the “cold trapping effect” for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in karst Tiankeng topography. The difference in temperature between the top and bottom of Tiankeng is a predominating factor which can cause a POPs “cold trapping effect.” Other environmental factors are proposed to explain the difference in concentration such as humidity, topography (or slope), wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, vegetation cover, and soil organic matter. The environmental condition of Dashiwei Tiankeng appears to favor the accumulation of OCPs than that of Datuo Tiankeng because Dashiwei Tiankeng is a matured Tiankeng but Datuo Tiankeng is a degraded one. Thus, there is the need for further studies on the environmental factors influencing distribution of OCPs in karst Tiankeng.