Pesticides in Precipitation from an urban region in Poland (Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia Tricity) between 1998 and 2000

Selected organonitrogen, organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticideshave been determined in precipitation samples collected at ten sites in the Gdansk region (northern Poland) over a period of three years (1998–2000). The following compounds were detected the most frequently: simazine (1–58 ng L-1), atrazine (1–44), propazine (1–21), fenitrothion (1–21 ng L-1), chlorfenvinfos (1–13 ng L-1),α-HCH (1–12 ng L-1), p,p′DDT (1–10 ng L-1), o,p′DDE (1–6 ng L-1) and o,p′DDD (1–6 ng L-1). The pesticide concentrations in precipitation samples revealed seasonalfluctuations, with higher concentrations observed during the applicationperiods (June and July). The concentrations observed were also affectedby the inflow of polluted air masses from the southwest. The total pesticide concentration in the precipitation samples was strongly related to the abundance of green areas in the vicinity of the sampling sites. A weak correlation was also found between the total concentration of organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides, andthe total concentration of organochlorine pesticides in the samples collected.