Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in sediments from the Yangtse River, China

Organochlorine Pesticides and PCBs pollution levels were determined in sediment samples taken from three sites along the Yangtse River (Nanjing part). The concentrations of various pesticides were in the range of 1.42–8.06 ng/g (t‐HCH), and <0.01–4.12ng/g (t‐DDT), while the concentrations of PCBs were below detection limit at all three sites. The contamination by Organochlorine Pesticides and PCBs in sediments from the Yangtse River was not significant when compared with that reported in the literature from some other countries’ rivers, which may be due to the high flow velocity and water amount of the Yangtse River.