Measurements were made of the residual level of chlorinated hydrocarbon compound and mercury compound in the tissues of wild birds and herbs in Korea from November 1974 to August 1975. Aldrin was detected in all of the wild birds analyzed. The residue levels of aldrin varied from 0.353ppm to 16.115ppm. Among the tissues analyzed, the feathers contained the highest concentration of aldrin, but chloridane could not be detected in wild birds. The pesticides detected in wild birds were (alpha+beta)-BHC gamma-BHC, delta-BHC, heptachlor, aldrin, TDE and DDT. Dieldrin was detected only in the stomach of eastern dunlin caught at the Nakdong River basin. Residue levels of mercury were measured in all wild birds analyzed. Among tissues analyzed for mercury compound concentration, here also the feathers showed the highest level. The feathers of the eastern dunlin showed a high content of mercury compound which was 76.665 ppm at the highest level. Herbs used as material for oriental remedies were contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons which were (alpha+beta)-BHC, gamma-BHC, dieldrin, DDT, heptachlor, TDE, aldrin and epoxide. The insect materials from Cicadae testa, Bombycis corpus, and Scolopendia were much more contaminated by pesticides than plant materials. Herbs cultivated in arable areas were also found to be more contaminated by pesticides than wild ones. Herbs, on the whole, contained lower levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons than wild birds. The incidence of pesticide residues in natural products and in wild birds, however, should be considered as a global environmental pollution problem. The present investigation could contribute as a baseline study for the monitoring of pesticide pollution, its application and dispersal, and the hazard limit for food and human health.
Animal ; Birds/metabolism* ; Human ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/analysis ; Korea ; Mercury/analysis ; Pesticide Residues/analysis* ; Plants/analysis*

The present study counted the frequency of detection technologies and monitoring frequency of pesticide species by frequency analysis based on the 28 258 pieces of data on pesticide content of Chinese medicinal materials in CNKI, calculated the detection rate and exceeding rate of different types of pesticides, and systematically analyzed the pesticide residue pollution of Chinese medicinal materials. The results showed that there were 40 types of pesticides with detection rates higher than 10%, where new pesticides such as organochlorines and nicotine accounted for 55%, and organic phosphorus, pyrethroids, and carbamates accounted for 17.5%, 15.0%, and 12.5%, respectively. Seventeen types of pesticides exceeded the standard to varying degrees, including 12 types(70.59%) with exceeding rates not higher than 5%, four types(23.53%) with exceeding rates in the range of 5%-10%, and one type(5.88%) with an exceeding rate higher than 10%. As revealed by the analysis results of the past five years, the pesticide residue pollution of Chinese medicinal materials showed a downward trend. Compared with the conditions at worst, organochlorines decreased by about 2/3 in detection rate and 47.23% in exceeding rate, carbamates by about 1/2 in detection rate and 10.78% in exceeding rate, organic phosphorus by 3/4 in detection rate and 7.22% in exceeding rate, pyrethroids by 1/2 in detection rate and 11.05% in exceeding rate, and other types by about 1/2 in detection rate but not exceeded the standard. In general, pesticide residues in Chinese medicinal materials and safety have been significantly improved. However, pesticide residues are still important factors affecting the quality and safety of Chinese medicinal materials. It is suggested to further improve the control standards of pesticide residues in Chinese medicinal materials, strengthen the monitoring of pesticides used in practical production, and promote the ecological planting mode to facilitate the high-quality development of the Chinese medicinal material industry.
China ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/analysis* ; Pesticide Residues/analysis* ; Pesticides/analysis* ; Pyrethrins/analysis*

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determination of chloropicrin in the air of workplace by gas chromatography with liquid absorption collection.

METHODSChloropicrin in sample air was collected by absolute ethyl alcohol in a porous glass plate absorption tube. Following direct sample loading, samples were separated by gas chromatography and detected with a micro-electron capture detector. The present method was compared with the national standard method.

RESULTSThe range of linearity was 0-3.0 µg/ml, and the regression equation was y = 3488.80x-57.84, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 4. The detection limit was 0.003 µg/ml, with a minimum detectable concentration of 0.005 mg/m³ based on a 3.0 L sampling volume. The average recovery rate was 98.9%∼103.2%. The within-run precision was 0.96%-2.12%, and the between-run precision was 2.75%-4.59%. The sampling efficiency was 98.6%. Samples in porous glass plate absorption tube could be stored at 4 °C for at least 5 days. The result ratio of this method to the national standard method was 97.7%-108.0% .

CONCLUSIONThe present method meets the requirements of "Guide for establishing occupational health standards-Part 4: Determination methods of air chemicals in workplace" (GBZ/T 210.4-2008), and is feasible for determination of chloropicrin in the air of workplace.

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis ; Workplace

Panax ginseng, a perennial herb, is prone to diseases and insect pests in the growth process, which are primarily prevented and treated by pesticides. However, due to the lack of standardization in the types, frequencies, and doses of pesticides, pesticide residues have become the main exogenous pollutants of P. ginseng. To explore the risk of pesticide residues in P. ginseng, this paper summarized and analyzed the common pesticide residues in P. ginseng, detection techniques, and pesticide residue limit stan-dards based on the published literature in recent years. The results revealed that the main pesticide residues in P. ginseng were organochlorine pesticides, such as tetrachloronitrobenzene, pentachloronitrobenzene, and hexachlorobenzene, and the detection techniques were dominated by gas chromatography(GC), liquid chromatography(LC), or those combined with mass spectrometry(MS). Because of the long half-life and difficulty in degradation, organochlorine pesticides have become the main factor affecting the export of P. ginseng. It is worth mentioning that P. ginseng has been classified as food in Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and other countries, and the standards of pesticide residues and limits are stricter than those in China. The quality and safety of P. ginseng are prerequisites for the efficacy of Chinese medicine and the development of traditional Chinese medicine. The formulation of scientific and effective standards for pesticide application and limits would promote the high-quality development of the P. ginseng industry.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/analysis* ; Panax/chemistry* ; Pesticide Residues/analysis* ; Pesticides/analysis*

OBJECTIVETo determine organochlorine pesticide residue in 9 Chinese herbs.

METHODSThe organochlorine pesticides were extracted from the herbs with mixed solvents of n-hexane and acetone by a solid-phase extraction cartridge Florisil. Capillary gas chromatography was used to separate the samples.

RESULTSGood linearities were obtained for 11 organochlorine pesticides. The average recoveries at two concentration levels ranged from 79.9% to 89.0%,and from 86.3% to 104.8%, with relative standard deviations of 1.8% to 7.1%, respectively and detection limit of 2 g/kg. The residues of the organic pesticides exceeded national standard in Pogostemon cablin and Panax notoginseng.

CONCLUSIONCapillary gas chromatography combined with electron capture detection provides a practical means for detecting organic pesticide residue in Chinese herbal medicines, and the limits of pesticide residues should be formulated in Chinese pharmacopoeia.

Chromatography, Gas ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis ; Pesticide Residues ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo determine and evaluate the residuals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in soil and in Pogostemon cablin in order to provide for GAP planting.

METHODGC method was applied to determine residuals of organochlorine pesticides, the contents of Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg and As were determined by IPC.

RESULTThe contents of residuals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals were different among three cultivars and planting bases clearly, but all of the residuals in soil from three planting bases were below the second standard of Environmental quality standard for soils (GB15618), and the residuals in P. cablin also meet the "Green standards of medicinal plants and preparations for foreign trade and economy".

CONCLUSIONResiduals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in soil and P. cablin from three planting bases in Hainan province were conformed to GAP.

Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis ; Lamiaceae ; growth & development ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Pesticide Residues ; analysis ; Soil ; analysis ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the basic contents of organochlorine pesticides (DDT, BHC and HCB) in human milk of normal residents in Beijing urban areas.

METHODSThrough continuous survey on the trend of organochlorine contents in human milk since DDT and BHC pesticides were forbidden in use in 1983, and to evaluate the effects of this program, the required lying-in women residents in urban districts for at least 5 years were enrolled in this study. All these lying-in women and also their family members were not exposed to or engaged in producing or selling organochlorine pesticides. In this study, the women chosen were giving birth to a child just after one week to 4 months. The detection method used is the national standard biological detection method.

RESULTSIn 1982, the total amount of DDT and BHC contents in human milk were 6.45 mg/kg and 6.97 mg/kg, respectively, which were found the highest level in the word. The contents of organochlorine were descending apparently since the DDT and BHC pesticides were forbidden by Chinese government in 1983. According to the standards of FAO/WHO, the average intake of total DDT and beta-BHC in the infants born in 1998 was 11 and 6 microg/kg, respectively. Both of them were less than the allowable daily intake amount regulated by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Japan.

CONCLUSIONThe study might make clear that the basic levels of organochlorine pesticides (DDT, BHC and HCB) in human milk of normal residents and the attenuation trend of 2 pesticides cumulative levels in human body, through estimating the intake quantity of organochlorine by infants, showing that the DDT and BHC daily intake from human milk absorbed by infants, who were born after 1998, were at a safe level. It was indicated that the measure for forbidding use of DDT and BHC pesticides is contributory.

Adult ; China ; DDT ; analysis ; Female ; Hexachlorobenzene ; analysis ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Pesticide Residues ; analysis ; Urban Health

OBJECTIVETo determine the residues of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in Radix Ophiopogonis and Ophiopogon japonicus.

METHODThe residues of 4 isomers of benzene hexa chloride (BHC) and 4 isomers of dichloro dipheny trichloroethane (DDT) were determined by gas chromatography. The contents of Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg and As were determined by ICP.

RESULTThe residues of organochlorine pesticides in Radix Ophiopogonis were lower than the permissible maximum limits of the Chinese national standard except hexachloride (BHC) in Radix Ophiopogonis from Cixi as well as Cu in soil of Luojiang.

CONCLUSIONThe enrichment capacity of Radix Ophiopogonis for (BHC) and Hg is higher. It is suggested that we should try to select herbs-growing soil for O. japonicus with a particular emphasis on the pesticides residues in soil.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Pesticide Residues ; analysis ; Pesticides ; analysis ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the residuals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in soil, water and Radix Liriopes from planting bases in Quanzhou city, and evaluate the quality of the herb.

METHODGC method was applied to determine residuals of organochlorine pesticides, the contents of Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, and As were determined by IPC.

RESULTThe contents of residuals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals varied among the samples of soil, water and Radix liriopes, but all of the residuals met requirement of the national standard.

CONCLUSIONResiduals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in soil, water and Radix liriopes from planting bases in Quanzhou city were conformed to GAP.

China ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis ; Liriope Plant ; chemistry ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Pesticide Residues ; analysis ; blood ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; analysis