Human Exposure and Risk Assessment of Soil Pollution with Persistent Organochlorine Compounds in Bulgaria
Fina Kaloyanova-Simeonova1, Zlatka Bratanova1, Stefka Bratinova2,
Gyula Dura3, Jordan Simeonov4, Veska Kambourova1, and Tomislav Rizov1
1 National Center of Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Nutrition, Sofia, Bulgaria
2 Agency for Environment and Waters, Sofia, Bulgaria
3 National Institute of Environmental Health, József Fodor National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
4 National Center of Oncology, Sofia, Bulgaria
Corresponding author: Zlatka Bratanova
National Center of Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Nutrition
15 Dimitar Nestorov
Sofia 1431, Bulgaria.
Telephone: (+ 359 2) 5812542
Fax number: (+ 359 2) 9581277
CEJOEM 2001, Vol.7. Nos.3-4.:263-275
Key words:
Soil pollution, persistent pesticides, risk assessment, modelling, human risk
Abstract:
Summarized data of soil monitoring (1997–1999) are presented for the following persistent
organochlorine pesticides (OCPs): aldrin, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor (HC), hexachlorbenzene
(HCB), methoxychlor, cis-heptachlorepoxide (cis-HCE), a-hexachlorocyclohexane
(a-BHC) and lindane. In Bulgaria, the first
four have been banned since 1969, and HC since 1991. The data for soil pollution demonstrate that
they still exist in the environment in almost all regions of the country. DDT is the principal
pollutant: samples were positive in 98%. In limited cases its levels are up to 13 mg/kg, higher than the
cleanup limits in Bulgaria (4 mg/kg). In several cases, low ratio of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene
(DDE) to DDT indicates recent illegal use of DDT. HCB have been detected in 68% of samples up to
0.004 mg/kg; HC in 25%, up to 0.002 mg/kg; cis-HCE, in 48% up to 0.096 mg/kg; metoxychlor in 30%,
up to 0.25 mg/kg; a-BHC in 31%, up to 0.009 mg/kg;
g-BHC, in 31%, up to 0.019 mg/kg; aldrin in 16%, up to 0.0027
mg/kg; dieldrin in 12%, up to 0.23 mg/kg; endrin in 14%, up to 0.01 mg/kg. All pesticides found
were usually at low concentrations, similar to those announced for other countries where there is
a limitation of the use of persistent OCPs.
Estimation of risk for adults and children in four different
scenarios (agricultural, industrial, recreational, and urban) was performed using Human
Exposure to Soil Pollutants (HESP) model. Soil monitoring data (maximum and average
concentrations) were used. In 11 districts of the monitored 15, the risk for health from
soil pollution with DDT exists. It is considerable in 5 districts. Of the other persistent
OCPs according to HESP calculations, only maximal concentrations of dieldrin represent more
than negligible risk. The most important adverse health effect is the potential occurrence of cancer.
Received: 17 September 2001
Accepted: 13 March 2002
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