Speaker
Description
Organochlorine pesticides, chlorobenzenes and polychlorinated biphenyls represent groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) highly resistant to degradation. Due to their chemical stability and lipophilic nature, they tend to accumulate both in the environment and in biological systems. Given their historical use in agriculture and industry, the Vardar River was selected for assessing potential residual contamination. Surface water samples were collected from eight representative sites to evaluate their presence and distribution along the river path. Liquid–liquid extraction with petroleum ether was used for sample preparation, and analyses were carried out using GC-ECD for quantification and GC-MS for identification.
The analysis revealed that hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers were still detectable across multiple locations. Polychlorinated biphenyls were mostly abundant in the midstream region (Bashino Selo and Nogaevci), while the downstream sites showed lower values. In addition to target analytes, qualitative screening indicated the presence of long-chain hydrocarbons, alcohols, and phthalates, pointing to a mixture of natural organic matter and diffuse anthropogenic inputs.
These findings confirm the ongoing persistence of organochlorine pollutants within the Vardar River basin and underline the necessity of continuous environmental monitoring.
