Recent decline of DDTs among several organochlorine pesticides in background air in East Asia

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlordanes (CHLs), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) in air-mass outflows from East Asia were recorded monthly from April 2009 to March 2014 at Cape Hedo in Japan. These organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were collected by a high volume air sampler equipped with a quartz fiber filter, a polyurethane foam plug, and activated carbon fiber and analyzed by using a gas chromatograph–high resolution mass spectrometer. The overall (and geometric mean ± SD) concentration over the period was 4.9–43 pg m−3 (15 ± 7.8 pg m−3) in HCHs (sum of α-/β-/γ-/δ-HCH), 1.5–83 pg m−3 (8.8 ± 11 pg m−3) in CHLs (sum of cis-/trans-chlordane, cis-/trans-nonachlor, and oxychlordane), and 0.71–16 pg m−3 (2.5 ± 2.0 pg m−3) in DDTs (sum of o,p′-/p,p′-DDD, o,p′-/p,p′-DDE, and o,p′-/p,p′-DDT). Clear seasonal changes, i.e. higher in summer and lower in winter, were observed in HCHs and CHLs, suggesting the dominant effect of temperature-dependence, secondary sources in these OCPs. DDT concentration as well as the ratio of (o,p′-DDT + p,p′-DDT) to total DDTs, on the other hand, showed clear a declining trend during the five year sampling period, suggesting the decrease of input of newly produced DDTs in the regional environment by reflecting recent activities in the East Asian region to eliminate production and use of DDTs under the Stockholm Convention. •HCHs, CHLs, and DDTs were detected in background air at Cape Hedo in Japan.•Seasonal changes, i.e. higher in summer and lower in winter, were observed in HCHs and CHLs.•DDTs showed a declining trend from April 2009 to March 2014. DDTs showed a declining trend from April 2009 to March 2014 at Cape Hedo, suggesting the decrease of input of newly produced DDTs in East Asia.