Preliminary detection of toxic organic pollutants in sediments of the confluence area of Hong river - Bach Hac, Phu Tho, Vietnam

Abstract

Pollution of toxic organic substances in the environment is a topical issue that is receiving attention and evaluation. This article has initially detected a number of organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in the sediments of the confluence of three main river branches: Red river - Thao river (HT); Lo river - Chay river (LC) and Da river (Viet Tri - Phu Tho junction) (SD) in Bach Hac ward, Phu Tho province. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis techniques, PAHs, organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides were determined in sediments at five survey locations (HT, LC, SD, BH and SH). The results showed that the average concentrations of 12 substances belonging to the PAHs group in the sediments ranged from 3.70 to 32.9 µg/kg dry weight (dw). Sixteen organochlorine pesticides with minimal concentrations <0.01 µg/kg dw and nine organophosphorus pesticides with average content from 0.022 to 0.88 µg/kg dw were found. These preliminary results have provided scientific information about the current levels of pollution
and contributed to the development of strategies for managing organic pollution in the environment, especially in the context of an increase in toxic pollution in sediments.