Levels and origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fluvial sediment of Drava river

Within the scope of an international monitoring program to assess water and sediment quality in the Danube basin, sediment samples (river bottom/bank, suspended and active floodplain/overbank) were collected in the summer of 2020 at a sampling site in the Drava river to monitor 19 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as apparent water contaminants. Among these, 8 PAHs were specified as priority pollutants in the corresponding EU Directive on environmental quality standards (2008/105/EC). The highest levels were measured for fluoranthene (1.73 µg/g), benzo(b)fluoranthene+benzo(k)fluoranthene (0.765 µg/g) and anthracene (0.528 µg/g) sampled from the upper 5 cm layer of the bottom sediment on 5th August 2020

Passive sampling for pesticides and PAHs in the SIMONA project

Passive samplers (solid phase extraction, SPE disks and Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler, POCIS) were tested to monitor 85 pesticides (including glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid, AMPA), 19 polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) components, metals in the Drava river. Among pesticides the time weighted average concentrations of terbuthylazine, S-metolachlor and tebuconazole were the highest. Some chlorophenoxy acids (2,4-D, mecoprop-P and MCPA) also appeared at lower levels. Bentazone, DEET and diuron were detected in all samples at low levels. Among the 19 PAHs phenanthrene occurred at the highest concentrations, but fluoranthene, pyrene and naphthalenes also contributed to the total PAH concentration. In the case of the POCIS sampler selective for glyphosate and AMPA, the levels of AMPA metabolite exceeded significantly that of the parent herbicide compound

Determination of surfactants used in agrochemicals

Examples for determination of surfactants used in agrochemicals will be presented by using different instrumental analytical methods. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is more convenient for characterization of these mixtures compared to gas chromatographic (GC) methods. However, due to better separation of GC it allows more detailed information about the composition of the mixtures analysed, but usually prior to GC derivatisation is required. Two chemical modifications for GC-MS measurements were investigated in detail: conversion of sulfonates to trifluoroacyl esters as well as silylation of hydroxy compounds

Determination of DDT and its metabolites in soil, tree bark and earthworm samples near the Budapest chemical works

An abandoned industrial site of the former Budapest Chemical Works (BVM) company has been found to contain 2000-3000 tonnes of leaking industrial waste and dangerous chemicals in corroded barrels on bare ground. The waste lot includes general industrial reagents and intermediates, some 100-200 tonnes of sulphuric acid, several hundred tonnes of 1.2 dichlorobenzene and isopropanol, and numerous other substances falling into toxicity categories from toxic to very toxic or carcinogenic, such as dinitrobenzoic acid, as well as chemical wastes from the pesticide production of the company. BVM used to manufacture numerous pesticide active ingredients, including chlorinated hydrocarbons. Thus, it produced the insecticide DDT in large quantities until the ban of the compound in 1968 and derogated approval for sales until 1974. The premises of the company has been reported previously to be contaminated, therefore, in the scope of our pesticide residue monitoring surveys between 2015 and 2019, we carried out sampling in its immediate vicinity. In our study, soil (8 samples), surface water (2 samples), tree bark (Robinia pseudoacacia, Sambucus nigra, Populus nigra) and common reed (Phragmites australis, (6 samples), as well as earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris; 1 sample) sampled next to BVM were analyzed for DDT and metabolite (~DDT) levels. Exceedingly high ~DDT levels above the accepted limit (0.1 mg/kg) were detected in soil samples: nearly 1.5 mg/kg in one sample and 0.11-0.484 mg/kg in other 5 cases. Among the biological samples (tree bark, common reed and earthworm) 0.184 and 0.190 mg/kg concentrations of ~DDT were determined in a black poplar and in an earthworm sample. These findings indicate that the wellknown persistency problem related to chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, particularly to DDT remains actual to our days

Application rates of neonicotinoids in seed coating as sources of environmental contamination

To assess technical variability in actual dosages, the application rates of neonicotinoid insecticide active ingredients in seed coatings were determined and compared for commercial seeds of different maize varieties. Theeffect oflong storage and coating by unique equipment were assessed. Application rates in different pesticide treatment modes (seed coating, spray or soil granule applications) were also compared. Results indicate that the three technologies utilize similar amounts of the active ingredients per hectare

Environmental analytical aspects of mosquito control practice

Aerial application of insecticides was monitored by determination of the active ingredient (deltamethrin) using a gas chromatograph coupled to an electron capture detector. The amount of pesticide active ingredient settled to trays after an hour indicated uneven distribution patterns influenced by micrometeorological conditions as well. Maximum half and typically about 30% of the applied insecticide settled in one hour after the treatment. Pesticide drift observed 50 meters away from the target treatment zone was significant in all cases. The measured values ranged between 7% and 31% of the applied deltamethrin and the highest value was observed for K-OTHRIN 10 ULV formulation. Parallel determination of the spray droplet size distribution and specific droplet numbers also confirmed that the drops reach the soil surface and indicated a substantial spray drift

Investigation of priority pollutants in the sediment phase-project Simona

The Framework Directive (WFD) of the European Union (EU) aims to achieve good status for water bodies in EU, but there occurs a delay in its implementation related to priority pollutant substances. A key issue in water protection and management is that priority pollutants should be monitored not only in the water bodies, but also in sediments and the biota. Distribution between the water and sediment phases is strongly affected by numerous factors, including the polarity of the analytes, as well as amorphous organic matter and suspended matter content in the water body, and are often affected by methodological parameters. As a result, certain pollutants will be detected in the water phase, others in the sediment, again others in both, as indicated by reported cases in the scientific literature. This challenge is illustrated in the case of project “Sediment-quality Information, Monitoring and Assessment System” (SIMONA) (2018-2021) within the Danube Transnational Program

Pesticide residues in environmental and produce samples from ecological and conventional paprika cultivation fields

To support environmental and food safety of spice paprika production, paprika growing sites in intensive and ecological cultivation have been sampled and analyzed for pesticide residues in Hungary. Two sites of three producers in each cultivation mode were sampled in early summer. Soil samples have been collected at three different points from two or three depth levels, thus, altogether 42 soil samples have been collected at six intensive cultivation fields (ICFs) and 23 soil samples from ecological cultivation fields (ECFs). Pesticide residues in soil extracts have been determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In soils from ICF sampling sites pesticide active ingredients trifluralin, tefluthrin, chlorpyrifos and DDT were detected together with certain decomposition products (DDE, DDD). Harvested paprika samples were collected in September from four ICFs and from one ECF. Biological samples, prepared by a modified QuEChERS extraction method and analyzed for pesticide residues by GC-MS, contained no detectable amounts of pesticide active ingredients and metabolites, even when plants were grown in ICF on soil containing pesticide residues

Study on Soil Mobility of Two Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Movement of two neonicotinoid insecticide active ingredients, clothianidin (CLO) and thiamethoxam (TMX), was investigated in different soil types (sand, clay, or loam) and in pumice. Elution profiles were determined to explore differences in binding capacity. Soil characterized by high organic matter content retained the ingredients, whereas high clay content resulted in long release of compounds. Decrease in concentration was strongly influenced by soil types: both CLO and TMX were retained in loam and clay soils and showed ready elution through sandy soil and pumice. Elution capability of the active ingredients in sandy soil correlated with their water solubility, indicating approximately 30% higher rapidity for TMX than for CLO. Soil organic carbon-water partitioning coefficients (Koc) determined were in good agreement with literature values with somewhat lower value for CLO in sandy soil and substantially higher values for TMX in clay soil. High mobility of these neonicotinoid active ingredients in given soil types urges stronger precautionary approach taken during their application