Journal of Water Resource and Protection
 Vol.4 No.3(2012), Article ID:17948,9 pages DOI:10.4236/jwarp.2012.43017

Input Quantity and Distribution of Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in the Jiaozhou Bay Waters*

Dongfang Yang1,2,3, Ziru Ding4, Zhenqing Miao1, Huanzhi Xu1, Hongyan Bai3

1Marine Science College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China

2North China Sea Environmental Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Qingdao, China

3College of Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China

4The Fourth Branch, China Ocean Monitoring, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Ningbo, China

Email: dfyang@shou.edu.cn

Received January 2, 2012; revised February 2, 2012; accepted March 1, 2012

Keywords: HCH; Distribution; Prohibition; Input Quantity; Jiaozhou Bay

ABSTRACT

Based on data from the investigation in Jiaozhou bay waters in May, July and November in 1987, the distribution, source and seasonal variation of HCH in Jiaozhou Bay are analyzed. The results showed that in Jiaozhou bay HCH content was very low and less than 0.100 μg/L in this year, and better than the national Category I of the sea water quality standard, and the water quality about HCH was very clean; and that The seasonal variation of the HCH content in Jiaozhou bay waters has already vanished, namely, the seasonal variation of the HCH content in this year was not influenced by the rainfall, the runoffs or rivers. The horizontal distributions of the HCH content in the whole bay waters showed that the HCH content in the bay was not only directly input from both runoffs but also from rivers, the HCH source was area-source and came from land. The vertical distributions of the HCH content in the whole bay waters showed that the change of the HCH content at surface was not consistent with the corresponding one at bottom, and that the trend of the HCH distribution at surface was not consistent with that at bottom, and that only the HCH contents at surface and bottom were very close. From the year of four years ago of the prohibition (1979), to the prohibition year of HCH use (1983), and finally to the year after the four years of the prohibition (1987), The change of the HCH input into the bay waters unveiled that the by four years before the prohibition, the pollution of the HCH on land was very grave, and by four years after the prohibition, the HCH content in waters was very low, whose process represented that the process of human being having broken up the earth and the process of the earth having naturally restored. Therefore, Human being would consider not only for own benefits but also for the sustainable development of environment.

1. Introduction

In China, a large amount of HCH has ever been produced and used. Since 1950, Having tested and produced HCH played an important role in the prevention and cure of migratory locust, taking major contribution to agricultural production and injurious insect prevention. However, as HCH has high toxicity and is difficult to decompose as well as to harm in large area, its use was prohibited in our country in 1983. Although after the prohibition the residual quantity in soil and water body obviously reduced, it still also could examine the certain concentration HCH [1-14]. Then, this serious research on the distribution and content of HCH in water area would make it clear to which degree that human being destroys environment through HCH before and after the prohibition, and how the nature would eliminate HCH in environment through the land and waters transfer process [1-14].

In this paper, according to the data from the investigation in Jiaozhou bay waters in May, July and November in 1987, the source, distribution and transfer of HCH in the marine area of Jiaozhou bay after 4 years of the prohibition would be analyzed, studying the change of HCH’s input quantity in 1979, 1983 (the year of HCH prohibition) and 1987 provided the theoretical proofs for the research on the states of the earth polluted through HCH by human being and HCH in nature eliminated by the earth.

2. Material and Method

Jiaozhou Bay is a semi-closed natural inland bay, located in the central of Yellow Sea, south of Shandong Peninsula, between longitude 120˚04' - 23' and latitude 35˚58' - 36˚18', its depth is shallow (average depth of 7 m), the bay mouth is narrow (about 2.5 km), and the time of completing the seawater exchange in the Jiaozhou bay is about 15 days [4-6]. In the eastern and northeastern coast of the Jiaozhou bay there is the Qingdao’s industrialintensive area. There are some main rivers such as Yang river and Dagu river into the Jiaozhou bay. In the east of the bay, Haibo, Licun and Lou rivers with a lot of industrial and domestic waste water into the bay brings a lot of pollutant, causing the damage of the bay environment.

The data used here were recorded in May, July and November in 1987 by the North China Sea Environmental Monitoring Center, SOA, in six stations: 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 47 (Figure 1). Water samples were collected according to the depth of water (if more than 15 m, collect surface layer and bottom layer; if less than 15 m, only collect surface layer). In the investigation and sampling, on-site the seawater samples were filtrated, kept in polyethylene flask in cold storage and mensurated in lab by gas chromatography, with which Tangxiu Gu’s method [4] was consistant.

3. Results

3.1. Amount of Content

In the whole Jiaozhou bay waters area, the HCH content was very low in May, July and November, its content range was 0.0121 - 0.0901 μg/L, which showed that in May, July and November in the surface waters in the whole Jiaozhou bay, the seawater quality in HCH reached Category I (1.00 μg/L) of the National Standard of China for Seawater Quality GB3097-1997 (in which 3 categories 1 to 3 are classified from the best to the worst). The HCH content was lower than 0.100 μg/L in the whole Jiaozhou waters area, indicating that on aspect of HCH’s content, the seawater quality was so clean in the whole Jiaozhou bay (Table 1).

3.2. Horizontal Distribution

In May and November, in Jiaozhou bay waters, the horizontal distribution of HCH in the surface water area showed that the isoline on the HCH content (Figures 2-3) parallelled northeastern coastline and formed a series of parallels with different grades. Its content decreased from northern off-shore to southern bay mouth. In May, it decreased from 0.0901 μg/L to 0.0144 μg/L (Figure 2); in November, it decreased from 0.0821 μg/L to 0.0291 μg/L (Figure 3). In July, in Jiaozhou bay waters, the horizontal distribution of HCH in the surface water area showed that the isoline on the HCH content (Figure 4) represented in the surface water off the shore between estuaries of Haibo River and Lichun River there was relatively high content area and formed a high content center with a series of different grades, decreasing from 0.0213 μg/L in

Figure 1. Investigation sites in Jiaozhou Bay.

Table 1. The surface water quality in Jiaozhou bay in May, July and November.

Figure 2. HCH content distribution in surface in Jiaozhou Bay in May (μg/L).

the center outwards to 0.0121 μg/L. Obviously, in Jiaozhou bay waters, HCH content was very low, and forming the center with the HCH high content is mainly influenced by the slight disturbance of river.

In May, July and November, in the bottom water area of Jiaozhou bay mouth, the HCH’s horizontal distribution showed that the isoline of the HCH content at bottom (Figures 5-7), which almost paralleled with the line connedting both side shores of the bay mouth and formed parallel lines with a series of different grades.

In the Jiaozhou bay mouth waters, being divided into the inner bay mouth waters, the bay mouth waters, the outer bay mouth waters, in May, July and November,the HCH content at bottom decreased from the bay mouth to the inner or outer bay mouth. In May, it decreased from 0.0186 μg/L to 0.0137 μg/L (Figure 5). In July, it decreased from 0.0131 μg/L to 0.0118 μg/L (Figure 6); in November, it decreased from 0.0296 μg/L to 0.0242 μg/L (Figure 7).

In May, July and November, in the bay mouth waters, the HCH content range at bottom is 0.0118 - 0.0296 μg/L.

3.3. Vertical Distribution

There was three stations 31, 32 and 33 in the bay mouth waters, among which station 33 was the inner bay mouth and station 31 the outer. In May, the HCH content in surface was higher than that in the corresponding bottom. The absolute gap of the HCH content between the surface and bottom is 0.0007 - 0.0026 μg/L. In July, from the inner bay mouth, to the bay mouth, to the outer bay mouth, the HCH content in surface changed from higher than it in the corresponding bottom to lower than it in the corresponding bottom. The absolute gap of HCH content between in surface and bottom is 0.0002 - 0.0095 μg/L. In November, from the inner bay mouth, to the bay mouth, to the outer bay mouth, the HCH content in sur face changed from higher than it in the corresponding

Figure 3. HCH content distribution in surface in Jiaozhou Bay in July (μg/L).

Figure 4. HCH content distribution in surface in Jiaozhou Bay in November (μg/L).

Figure 5. HCH content distribution in bottom in Jiaozhou Bay in May (μg/L).

Figure 6. HCH content distribution in bottom in Jiaozhou Bay in July (μg/L).

Figure 7. HCH content distribution in bottom in Jiaozhou Bay in November (μg/L).

bottom to lower than it in the corresponding bottom. The absolute gap of HCH content between in surface and bottom is 0.0019 - 0.0074 μg/L.

The HCH content in the horizontal distribution of HCH in surface decreased from the inner bay mouth to the bay mouth, to the outer bay mouth. However, it in the horizontal distribution of HCH in bottom decreased from the bay mouth to the inner bay mouth or to the outer. The HCH horizontal distribution and variable trend between in the surface and bottom were inconsistent.

Therefore, in May, July and November, in the bay mouth waters, the HCH contents between in surface and bottom were close. However, The HCH horizontal distribution and variable trend between in the surface and bottom were inconsistent.

3.4. Seasonal Distribution

In Jiaozhou bay waters, in May, the HCH content in surface was 0.0144 - 0.0901 μg/L; in July, it was 0.0121 - 0.0213 μg/L; in November, it was 0.0291 - 0.0821 μg/L. The variable range of the HCH content in May included the one-year variable one. Therefore, in May, July and November, the HCH content range in surface was very close. There was no seasonal distribution of HCH in water area.

4. Discussion

4.1. Water Quality

In the whole Jiaozhou bay waters, the HCH content was very low, 0.0121 - 0.0901 μg/L, in May, July and November. The HCH content in the whole bay waters not only reached Category I (1.00 μg/L) but also was lower than 1.00 μg/L, whose seawater quality in HCH was the same as that in 1985 [10] and in 1986 [11], being better than Category I (1.00 μg/L). In the whole Jiaozhou bay waters, the seawater quality was very clean in HCH. With the HCH content becoming very low, much lower than 1.00 μg/L, and by the action of sea possessing uniformity [10], the HCH content in surface in waters have already been no seasonal variation. Therefore, in May, July and November, the HCH content range in surface in waters body is very close, now there was no seasonal distribution of HCH in waters body.

4.2. Source

In May and November, in Jiaozhou bay waters, the isoline of the HCH content in surface (Figures 2-3) paralleled the northeastern coastline and formed a series of parallel lines with different grades. The HCH content in surface decreased from the off-shore in north to the bay mouth, which was consistent with the change of HCH content in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 [8-11]. Therefore, HCH directly is inputted into the off shore waters area through runoff so its content was very low.

In July, in Jiaozhou bay waters, in the horizontal distribution of HCH in surface, the isoline of the HCH content in surface (Figure 4) formed a series of semi-circle with different grades in eastern off-shore, its content decreased from the eastern off-shore to outward. It was evident that as HCH content in surface waters was very low, by the slight disturbance of the river input into the bay waters, the horizontal distribution of the HCH content showed the obvious change. So, HCH was input by the river into the coastal waters, and its content was very low.

In 1983, China began to take the HCH prohibition. The HCH content in Jiaozhou bay waters was only from the HCH remnant in soil. Then, the HCH content input by the rivers into the off-shore waters was the same as directly by runoff on the earth’s surface, which was very low, lower than 0.100 μg/L, expressing that the HCH remnant on land decreased largely [9].

4.3. Land Transfere

In Jiaozhou bay coastal waters, the HCH content in surface decreased gradually from the north coastal waters to the south bay mouth waters, and its isoline formed a series of parallel lines with different grades. Or its isoline formed a series of semi-circle with different grades in eastern off-shore, and its content decreased gradually from the eastern off-shore to outward. The former showed that rain runoff directly input HCH into the off-shore water area in the bay. The latter showed that the rivers input HCH into the bay. Therefore, HCH came from both the area-source and the land.

Under the HCH prohibition in China in 1983, the HCH remnant on land decreased largely [9]. The result that the HCH content into the bay was very low in 1987 was coincident with that [8-11] in 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986.

From 1979 to 1984, the HCH content change in Jiaozhou bay coastal waters proved the transfer process of HCH on land [5-9]: the HCH content into off-shore changed with rain runoff, namely the change of the HCH content into the bay with the rainfall. Moreover, in Jiaozhou bay waters, the HCH content has seasonal change. However, from 1985 to 1987, in the whole Jiaozhou bay waters, the HCH content was lower than 0.100 μg/L in the whole year, which unveiled that there was no seasonal change in the HCH content. So, the result represented that with the HCH remnant decreasing rapidly, the HCH content in the Jiaozhou bay waters also decreased yearly gradually. Thus, around the Jiaozhou bay, the change of the rainfall, runoff and rivers had no important effect on the change of the HCH content in the Jiaozhou bay waters.

4.4. Waters Transfer

In the Jiaozhou bay waters, in May, July and November, the HCH contents in surface and bottom is very close, whose result was the same as the result obtained by the analysis of the HCH data of 1979-1986 (the absence of 1980) [5-11].

In May, July and November, in the bay mouth waters, the horizontal distribution and variable trend of the HCH content between in the surface and the corresponding bottom were inconsistent(Figures 2-7), whose result was consistent with that of the data analysis of 1986, and inconsistent with that of 1979-1986 (the absence of 1980).

Therefore, During the transfer process of the HCH waters [6,7] put forward by the authors, when the HCH content was lower than 0.100 μg/L, kept down was only the result that the HCH contents in the surface and bottom were very close. Otherwise, vanished was the result that the horizontal distribution and variable trend of the HCH content between in the surface and the corresponding bottom were consistent.

4.5. Input Quantity

Regarding the whole Jiaozhou bay waters as one water body, HCH is directly input into the Jiaozhou bay water body from rivers and runoff or open sea outside the bay, considered was the input quantity of HCH into the Jiaozhou bay water body during one year.

The change of the HCH content into the bay water body showed the influence of the HCH prohibition since 1983 in China on the bay water body. Comparing the change of the input quantity into the bay water body in 1979 (four years before the prohibition), 1983(the year of the prohibition) and 1987 (four years after the prohibition), we would illuminate the function of the HCH prohibition of 1983.

In the whole Jiaozhou bay waters, the input quantity of HCH in the bay water body in one year was:

Input quantity = the highest HCH content – the lowest HCH content By the calculation above, we would obtain the HCH input quantities into water body in 1983, 1979 and 1987 (Table 2).

The input quantities made out that the prohibition of HCH played an important role. In 1979, the HCH input quantity into the Jiaozhou bay water body reached 12.250 μg/L, explaining that farmers used a large amount of pesticide containing HCH, that HCH passed the transfer process on land [6-11], and that the large amount of HCH was input into the water body from the rivers. In 1983, namely the year of the HCH prohibition, the HCH

Table 2. Change of HCH input quantity into the bay before and after the prohibition.

input quantity into the Jiaozhou bay water body reached 0.634 μg/L, explaining that farmers could not use the pesticide containing HCH in farmland, and that the remnant HCH in soil was input into the water body by runoff. Moreover, the HCH content inputting into the water body was very low and dropped a level when compared with that before four years. In 1987, the HCH input quantity into the Jiaozhou bay water body reached 0.0780 μg/L, explaining that for four years farmers has not used pesticide with HCH not only in farmland, the remnant HCH but also in soil was eroded and brought away by runoff, leading to the remnant HCH on land descending rapidly, and making the HCH content into the bay water body very low. Compared with that before four years, the HCH input quantity dropped a level, too.

Therefore, the achievement of the HCH prohibition in China since 1983 was prominent. By four years before the prohibition, the HCH was severe pollution. By four years after the prohibition, the HCH remnant on land sharply declined and the HCH in waters rapidly reduced. The process from the four years before the HCH prohibition to the four years after it revealed that by the four years before the HCH prohibition, the HCH pollution that human being had brought to the earth was vast distribution and severe harm, the earth from land to rivers and to ocean was gravely polluted by HCH; and that by the four years after the HCH prohibition, the earth promptly eliminated the HCH pollution that human being had produced, moreover, by the processes of land and waters transfers [6-11], HCH dropped to the sea bottom so that its content on land and in waters was very low.

During the short 8 years, the HCH content declined two levels of amount, which determined that the ability of the earth for restoring the environmental pollution was greatly powerful.

5. Conclusions

According to the data from the investigation in Jiaozhou bay waters in May, July and November in 1987, the distribution, source and seasonal variation of HCH in Jiaozhou Bay are analyzed. The results showed below:

1) In May, July and November, the HCH content was less than 0.100 μg/L in the whole year and very low in Jiaozhou bay waters. The HCH content in Jiaozhou bay waters was superior to the Category I, and in addition, the seawater quality in HCH was much cleaner. When the HCH content was lower than 0.100 μg/L [11], because of the very low HCH content and the ocean uniformity [10], there was no seasonal change in HCH in the bay waters. Certainly, the HCH content in Jiaozhou bay waters almost was not influenced by the rainfall, runoff and rivers around Jiaozhou bay.

2) In May, July and November, the horizontal distribution of HCH showed that the HCH in Jiaozhou bay waters was directly input by runoffs and was input by rivers, and that The HCH source was area-source and came from land. In May, July and November, the vertical distribution of HCH showed that the changes of HCH contents between in surface and the corresponding bottom was inconsistent, and that the horizontal distribution trends of HCH between in surface and bottom were inconsistent, and that only the HCH contents in surface and bottom was very close.

3) The change of HCH’s input quantity before, in, and after, the forbidden 4 years respectively in 1979, 1983, and 1987, represented the changing process from farmers’ using a large amount of pesticide containing HCH in farmland to the prohibition of using pesticide, and to the fact that for 4 years that pesticide had not been used.

From by four years before the prohibition when the HCH pollution on land was severe, to by four years after it when the HCH content in waters was very low, this process revealed that on the one hand, human being’s destroying the earth was very terrible; on the other hand, the ability of the earth restoring was also powerful. Surely, the damage of human being had left the trace in nature. The authors considered that when for their own interest, human being would damage the sustainable development of environment and destroy the food chain, human being should profoundly introspect themselves and immediately adopt effective measures, or else it would ruin the earth which human being would exist on. It’s very kind that it’s never too late to mend

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NOTES

*Funded by Key Laboratory of Marine Spill Oil Identification and Damage Assessment Technology, SOA, the Director’s Foundation of the Beihai Monitoring Center, the State Oceanic Administration; and a Project of Chinese Academy of Science (KZCX 2-207).

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