Organochlorine pesticides levels in Portuguese coastal areas.

Data on levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) that exhibit potentially harmful effects to the environment all over the Portuguese coastal sediments were scarce. Therefore, in 2007-2008 12 OCPs were surveyed in surface sediments from 11 coastal sites (estuarine or lagoonal) covering north, centre and south areas of Portugal. Analyzes were performed using a previously validated method, involving pre-extraction of OCPs from sediments assisted by microwave and headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection for quantification and mass spectrometry for OCPs identification. Measurable levels (0.08-26ng g(-1)) of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha -HCH), gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane), aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, 4,4'-DDT, 4,4'-DDD, 4,4'-DDE, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan I and methoxychlor were observed in all cases. In few cases, the found levels denote the probability of occurrence of adverse biological effects.