Spatial distribution of legacy pesticides in river sediment from the Republic of Moldova

Historical use of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Republic Moldova could pose a potential risk for aquatic environment due to persistence, bioaccumulation and toxic properties these environmental pollutants. However, knowledge on concentrations legacy OCPs is limited. In this study, surface sediment from two main rivers; Dniester (8 sites, n = 15) Prut (6 12), tributary Bîc (11 11) R?ut 6), were collected during 2017–2018 analyzed hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) their transformation products (DDDs DDEs) using gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Sediment ?6DDX (1.9–140 ng g?1 dry weight (dw)) ?4HCHs (n.d–2.5 dw) found. big rivers, average concentration (18 35 times higher than (0.51 dw). Whereas, small rivers (32 was approximately 41 (0.77 Compared previous studies Eastern Europe, levels generally similar as found Moldova's neighboring countries (Romania Ukraine). Overall, contamination profile indicates long-term ageing used past agricultural sector. Less half sites (45%) had that benthic organisms. Hence, further work needed determine food web region associated risks ecosystems human health.