Organochloro pesticides

Organochloro hydrocarbons with insecticidal properties

The development and production of organochloro pesticides began already in the first half of the last century. Compounds like DDT, pentachlorophenol, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin and chlorophen were extensively used as plant protection products and pesticides all over the world. In the mid 1950s their negative properties became evident, e.g. their persistence and their high potetial for bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Moreover, some compounds are suspected to be carcinogenic and endocrine disruptive. As a consequence many industrial countries banned or restricted the use of organochloro pesticides in the 1970s.
A worldwide ban or restriction of the most hazardous organochloro pesticides followed when the Stockholm Convention and its amendment became effective in 2004 and 2009, respectively.

Substances

Specimen

  • Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution
  • Bioindicator in rivers and lakes
  • Fine insoluble mineral or organic particles in the water phase
  • Common brown alga of the coastal areas of the North and Baltic Sea
  • One of the most important edible mussel species common in the North and Baltic Sea
  • As the only viviparous fish in German nearshore waters, it is a bioindicator in nearshore coastal marine ecosystems.
  • Inshore, the herring gull mainly feeds from the sea: upon fish, mussels, and crabs.
  • A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.
  • A deciduous tree typical of ecosystems close to dense conurbations and an indicator for the characterisation of the immission situation during the vegetation period.
  • As the most dominant deciduous tree species in Central Europe, it plays a significant role in most nearly natural and also anthropogenically influenced forest ecosystems up to an altitude of 1100 m.
  • The roe deer is the most common of the larger herbivores (first order-consumer) to be found in the wild in Europe.
  • A pigeon species home in nearly every city.
  • As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
  • As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
  • Soil is livelihood and biosphere for humans, animals, plants and soil organisms. All the substances brought in are transported, transformed and/or accumulated in the soil.
  • Student groups with an even number of female and male students at the age of 20 to 29.

Sampling area

Sampling period

1982 - 2023