Status, Sources, and Health Risk of Hexachlorocyclohexanes in the Air of the Rural Region of Zhangzhou, Southeast China

From October 2012 to September 2013, air samples of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were collected by polyurethane foam passive air samplers (PUF-PAS) from Caiban Village (CbV), Baihua Village (BhV), Bumeishan Village (BmsV) and Qitang Village (QtV), located in the rural region of Zhangzhou, Southeast China. The test results showed that four HCH isomers (α-, β-, γ-, δ-HCH) were ubiquitous with ∑HCHs concentrations ranging from 4.80 to 41.9 pg/m 3 and a mean value of 17.7 pg/m 3 . A seasonal variation was established in the air HCH levels. The highest ∑HCHs concentration was observed in the autumn whereas the lowest was detected in the spring. The ratio α/γ-HCH, which was used to identify the contamination source, revealed that air HCHs originated mainly from historical technical HCH residues and lindane usage. The health risk of inhalation exposure to atmospheric HCHs, assessed by the inhalation dosimetry methodology, was low and considered negligible for the local residents.