Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, April 2010, Vol. 5, No. 1, p. 111 - 118



A PESTICIDE SURVEY IN SOIL, WATER AND FOODSTUFFS FROM
CENTRAL ROMANIA


László FERENCZ1 & Adalbert BALOG1, 2*
1 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Technical and Human Sciences, Sapientia Hungarian University of
Transylvania, Sighisoara str. 1/C. Tg.-Mureş, Romania.
2 Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller University, Dornburger Strasse 159, 07743, Jena, Germany.
adalbert.balog@gmail.com, adalbert.balog@uni-jena.de


Abstract: We measured the contamination levels with a broad gamma of pesticides in water, soil and
foodstuff from Central Romania. Organochlorine, triazine, carbamate, phenoxy acid and
organophosphorus pesticides were analyzed in water, soil and foodstuffs samples. Among the most
detected pollutants, we found pesticides prohibited in the European Union, such as isomers of
hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) and DDT, together with their metabolization products. Detectable
concentrations of diazinon (20 ng/l), dichlorvos (20 ng/l) and α-HCH were measured in rivers. Drinking
water samples from fountains and tap-water also contained α-HCH (6 ng/L) and γ-HCH (4 ng/L). The
DDT and DDE concentrations in soil varied between 20 µg/kg and 50 µg/kg. Concentrations of α-HCH
and β-HCH in foodstuffs were 248 µg/kg and 78.3 µg/kg, respectively, both exceeded the Romanian
reference value (100 µg/kg for α-HCH and 50 µg/kg for β-HCH). Organochlorines, such as DDT and its
metabolization product DDE, were present in almost all foodstuff samples (except for honey), and high
values (222 µg/kg for DDT and 35.3 µg/kg for DDE) were measured in eggs.


Key words: DDT, foodstuffs, HCH, Romania, soil, water.


1. INTRODUCTION

Experimental evidence shows a marked
correlation between some pesticides as
organochlorine pesticides and human
carcinogenicity (Ejaz et al., 2004). Cancer of the
breast, ovary, prostate, testis, and thyroid were
closely associated with occupational and
environmental exposure to the so-called endocrine-
disrupting pesticides. These pesticides have been
classified as carcinogens by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer, but only limited
studies investigated the possible infestation sources
with these pesticides in Romania (Vasilescu, 2000).
Romania, like many other developing countries, is
confronted with inadequate pesticide safety and
hygiene practices. Consequently, millions of people
are exposed to these substances each year. Although
the use pattern indicates that farm-workers and their
families are on the front line of exposed groups,
pesticide residues in food and in water demonstrate
the potential for non-occupational exposure
(Vasilescu, 2000).
Compared to other European countries, only
limited research on distribution, occurrence and fate
of pesticides has been done in Romania. Most of the
Romanian studies published to date have shown a
more opportunistic character rather than a systematic
approach to chart the pesticide pollution in a specific
area.
Some studies presented by investigators from
Research Institute for Soil Science and
Agrochemistry, Plant Protection Research Institute
and the Research Institute for Hygiene and Public
Health from Bucharest includes studies performed
for several years on condition of the pollutants of
organochlorine insecticides (HCH, DDT) that exist
in the soils of a few great irrigation systems within
the area of the Romanian Plain. Similar studies
reported the degrees of pollution with wastes of
HCH and DDT existing in waters for irrigation of
the respective systems, coming from Danube and
from the network of internal rivers (Olt, Arges,
Siret) (Blanaru et al. 1996, Fabritius & Balasescu,
1996, Lacatusu et al. 2002).
111

Selected persistent organochlorine pollutants
(POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
and organochlorine pesticides, such as DDT and
hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, were shown
to be present, sometimes in concentrations higher
than Romanian soil limits, in surface soils collected
from rural and industrial areas located in the South
of Romania (Covaci et al., 2003) and in surface soils
and sediments from Eastern Romania (Dragan et al.,
2006). DDTs were the main organochlorine
pesticides found in these soil samples
(concentrations up to 460 ng/g dw), while HCHs
were only occasionally found in high concentrations
(up to 308 ng/g dw). POPs were also measured in
sediments and biota (invertebrates, 11 fish species
and cormorant tissues) collected in 2001 from the
Danube Delta (Covaci et al., 2006). Also in this
case, DDTs were the predominant pollutants in all
samples. Human serum samples (n=142) from
Eastern Romania collected in 2005 showed also high
abundance of DDT and metabolites, together with
HCHs (Dirtu et al. 2006). These studies indicate that
DDT and metabolites are the predominant
organohalogenated pollutants in the Romanian
environment and people and therefore special
attention should be directed to them.
Approximately 8.000 tones (100% use active
ingredients) of pesticides are sprayed annually in
Romania onto approximately 15 millions hectares
area agricultural land (63% arable land) (Vasilescu,
2000). In spite of the rigorous controls, many
prohibited pesticides (DDT, technical HCH –
prohibited in Romania since 2003, lindane –
forbidden since 2007, are still illegally applied and
can be found in relatively high concentrations in
Romanian environment, food and humans. Hence,
there is a need to assess the nature and degree of the
risk and at the same time to take preventive
measures aimed at minimizing possible health
damages (Hura et al. 1999).
In the present study, we aimed to determine
the pesticide residues in soil, water and some
foodstuffs in Central parts of Romania and to assess
the occurrence in the Romanian environment and
food of pesticides prohibited in the European Union.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples (n = 57) were collected between
November 2004 and April 2005 from different
locations in Mures county, Central Romania, with
area of 6,714 km², a population of approximately
600,000 and the population density of 86.5
inhabitants per km2 (Fig. 1).




Figure 1. The map of the investigated region
112

Table 1. The instrumentation and limits of quantification (LOQs) for water soil and foodstuffs samples.

esticides Instrumentation L P Limits imits Limits
Water (n ) (µ )
F
(µ ) g/L
Soil
g/kg
oodstuffs
g/kg
Organochlorine EN ISO 6468 (GC-ECD-ECD) 1 10 10
Organophosphorus EN 12918 (GC-MS) 10 10 10
Triazine EN ISO 11369 (GC-MS) 10 10 10
Phenoxyacetic acid deriv. EN ISO 11369 (GC-MS) 10 10 10
Acetanilide deriv. EN ISO 11369 (GC-MS) 10 10 10
Carbamate EN ISO 11369 (GC-MS) 10 10 10

t (n = 1) and a
compo
ticides 10 ng/L
and 10
paramet s, such as water solubility, partition
the EPI Suite 3.12
softwa
rds and for
which

values
ce to
another and be a potential water contaminant.


Soil samples (n = 20) were collected from
agricultural fields,which included apple orchards,
vineyards, arable lands (maize, soybean, wheat,
potatoes fields), but also greenhouses. Samples were
taken from 50 cm deep. Water samples (n = 32)
were collected from main rivers (Mures, Tarnava
Mare and Tarnava Mica) and their tributaries
(Lechinta and Niraj), permanent lakes, temporary
lakes after snow melting, but also drinking water
sources from fountains and tap-water. Biological
samples (n = 5) consisted of 2 composite eggs
samples (each composed of 10 chicken eggs
acquired from the 2 most important markets in Tg.
Mures), honey (n = 1), pork fa
site potatoe sample (n = 1).
A number of 1316 measurements were made
using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry
(MS) and electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). A
broad gamma of 70 different pesticide was targeted,
from which the following compounds were detected
above the limit of quantification (LOQ) during
analysis: HCHs, DDTs, dieldrin, diazinon, 2,4-D,
atrazine, dichlorvos and Cu2+. The analyses were
performed in WESSLING Hungary Ltd (Budapest,
Hungary). A Hewlett Packard (HP 6890) gas
chromatograph with dual column and two ECD
detectors (GC-ECD/ECD) was used for the
organohalogen derivatives, and a HP GC coupled to
mass spectrometer system (MS 5973) (GC/MS) for
other pesticides, while an Perkin Elmer Optima 5300
DV ICP-OES was used for Cu2+. The Environmental
Testing Laboratory of WESSLING Hungary Ltd. is
certified as an independent testing laboratory, its
management system satisfying the requirements of
standard MSZ EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005. LOQs for
chlorinated compounds, using GC-ECD were 1 ng/L
for water samples and 10 µg/kg for soil and food
samples, while for triazine, carbamate, phenoxy-
acetic acid and organophosphorus pes
µg/kg, respectively (Tab. 1).
For calculation of various physico-chemical
coefficient (logKp), half-life time in soil (t1/2),
adsorption coefficients (logKoc) and bio-
concentration factors (logBFC) of the most
frequently identified pesticides,
er
re were used (EPI, 2000).
Parameters such as: partition coefficient
(logP), melting point, vapour pressure, water
solubility, hydrophobic character, bio-concentration
factor (BCF) and half-life (t1/2) in soil and soil
adherences (logKoc), Groundwater Ubiquity Score
(GUS) were calculated for the most detected
pesticides to determine their environmentally impact
(Tab. 2). This approach is useful for prioritizing
pesticides that pose potential health haza
monitoring should be considered.
The Koc describes the relative affinity or
attraction of the pesticide to soil/media material and,
therefore, the pesticide’s mobility in soil/media
(Uddameri & Kuchanur, 2004). Pesticides with
small Koc values are more likely to leach than those
with high Koc values. Water solubility and
adsorption to soil/media particles are inversely
related for most compounds, with some exceptions.
Water solubility > 30 ppm indicates that significant
mobility is possible if the Koc value is low (< 300-
500). Pesticides with solubility > 30 ppm and Koc
values less than 100 are considered a concern in
sandy soil by the EPA (Uddameri & Kuchanur,
2004). Pesticides with solubilities of < 1 ppm are
believed to have a higher likelihood of runoff.
Likewise, pesticides with high Koc values are more
likely to run off than leach. Pesticides with Koc
> 1,000 have a strong soil/media attachment.
Persistence describes how long a pesticide
remains active and it is represented by the half-life,
which is the time required for a substance to degrade
to one-half of its original concentration. In general,
the longer a pesticide persists in the environment,
the more likely it is to move from one pla
113

Table 2. Physico-chemical properties of t e most frequently identified insecticides.
non zine rvos
h

Properties DDT HCH Dieldrin Diazi 2,4-D Atra Dichlo
Melting point (°C, exp) 108.5 112.5 226-230 62.8 140.5 173 234.1
Vapour pressure (Hgmm, exp) -5 -6 ⋅10-5 0-5 10-7 -2 1.6⋅10-7 3.5⋅10 3.0⋅10 3.3 8.3⋅1 2.9⋅ 1.6⋅10
Water solubility (mg/L, exp) 0.0055 5.5 0.22 -- 677 35 8000
Water solubility (mg/L, calc) 3 0.007 4.0 0.15 1.1 336 214 1889
Log Kp, exp 6.91 4.14 5.30 -- 2.81 2.61 1.47
Log Kp, calc 6.79 4.26 5.45 4.73 2.62 2.82 0.60
Koc, calc. 220300 3380 10600 12600 29.41 230.4 40.2
logKoc 5.343 3.529 4.025 4.100 1.469 2.362 1.604
Evaporation from river (t1/2, 134.4 196 116.3 4835 24590 364300 1518 hour)
Evaporation from lake. (t1/2, 90 400 5000 0 hour) 1624 2281 1432 528 268 397 1668
t1/2, soil (day) 2000 400 1000 40 10 60 0.5
GUS -4.433 1.225 -0.075 -0.160 2.531 2.912 -0.721

time that the ratio does not
change
is
calculated using the following simple equation:
) (1)
obility, while between 2.0 and 4.0 high
mobility.
. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
id
ther
,7S,7aS)-
[6-
[2,2-dichloroethenyl
dimeth
ove the standard
criteri
and 100 ng/L for
trazine (Bratanova et al., 1998).

According to EPA guidelines (Arnot &
Gobas, 2006), the Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) is
defined as the ratio of chemical concentration in the
organism to that in surrounding water.
Bioconcentration occurs through uptake and
retention of a substance from water only, through
gill membranes or other external body surfaces. In
the context of setting exposure criteria, it is
generally understood that the terms "BCF" and
"steady-state BCF" are synonymous. A steady-state
condition occurs when the organism is exposed for a
sufficient length of
substantially.
The importance of adsorption and persistence
can be illustrated through the Groundwater Ubiquity
Score (GUS) index (Gustafson, 1993). GUS
( ) ( KoctGUS log4log 2/1 −⋅=

The Groundwater Ubiquity Score, or GUS,
frequently is used to rate pesticides for their
potential to move toward groundwater. The GUS is a
number that relates pesticide persistence (half-life)
and sorption (Koc) in soil. A pesticide with a short
half-life and high Koc will have a lower GUS than a
pesticide with a long half-life and low sorption
coefficient. Pesticides with GUS < 0.1 have low
mobility in water. Values between 1.0 and 2.0 means
medium m

3

In 31 out 57 samples, at least one of the
investigated pesticides was present above LOQ
(Tab. 3). High concentrations of pesticides were
foodstuffs (Tab. 3). The most common pesticides
were hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (α-, β- and γ-
HCH), 1,1′-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)bis(4-
chlorobenzene) (DDT), and its degradation product,
1,1'-(2,2-dichloroethenylidene)bis(4-chlorobenzene)
(DDE). O frequently detected pesticides were:
dieldrin [rel-(1aR,2R,2aS,3S,6R,6aR
3,4,5,6,9,9-hexachloro-1a,2,2a,3,6,6a,7,7a-
octahydro-2,7:3,6-dimethanonaphth[2,3-b]oxirene],
diazinon [O,O-diethyl O-[6-methyl-2-(1-
methylethyl)-4-pyrimidinyl] phosphorothioate], 2,4-
D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], atrazine
chloro-N-ethyl-N′-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-
2,4-diamine] and dichlorvos
entified in main rivers, in soil samples and in some
yl phosphate] (Tab. 3).
We detected pesticides in 16 water samples.
Diazinon (20 ng/l), dichlorvos (20 ng/l) and α-HCH
(an average of 5.8 ng/l) were measured in Mures,
Niraj, Lechinta, Tarnava Mare and Tarnava Mica
rivers. Drinking water samples from fountains and
tap-water also contained α-HCH (6 ng/L) and γ-
HCH (4 ng/L). The half-life of HCH isomers is
relatively high, while 2,4-D and atrazine (with
concentration of 110 ng/L) have shorter half-life
period, higher water solubility and low adherence to
soil particles (Table 2). In one water sample, the
concentration of 2,4-D was 100% ab
a for EU (70 ng/L) (Tab. 3).
Similar values as found in the present study
were reported for other Romanian rivers, such as the
Danube and its tributaries (Bratanova et al., 1998).
The most detected pesticides were the HCH isomers,
HCB, and DDT, together with atrazine and
desethylatrazine. The contamination levels were in
the order of 10 ng/L for DDT
a
114

Table 3. Concentrations of the detected pesticides and Cu + in Central Romanian water, soil and foodstuffs samples.
etectiona Average in. ax. edian D
2

Chemicals D M M M S
Water (ng/L) (n = 16)
α-HCH * 11

0
0
0
/kg) (n = 12)
5.8 1 20 4 5.5
β-HCH * 7 2.2 1 4 2 1.1
γ-HCH ** 9 2.6 1 4 3 1.3
Atrazin 3 77 30 11 90 42
2,4-D 1 150 - - - -
Cu 2+ 1 500 - - - -
Diazinon 1 20 - - - -
Dichlorvos 1 2 - - - -
Soil (µg
DDT * 3 30 20 50 20 17
DDE * 2 35 20 50 35 21
4 7 6 3
kg) (n = 2)
Dieldrin 5 3 2 4 3 7
Eggs *** (µg/
α-HCH * 2 155 61 248 155 132
β-HCH *
.7 2 9 6
5.3
g/kg)
2 52.6 26.9 78.3 52.6 36.3
DDT * 2 119 15 22 11 14
DDE * 1 3 - - - -
Pork fat (µ
α-HCH * 1 61.0 - - - -
-HCH * 1 26.9 - - - - β
a - number of samples where the corresponding analyte was detected; SD – Standard deviation;
* - forbidden pesticides in Romania, ** - forbidden from 2007, *** - pooled 10 egg from the same commercial.

8
μg/L f
explained with the
extens
ave even higher concentrations.
The detection of DDT suggests that it may still be
Concentrations of HCHs in Danube Delta
sediments ranged from 0.9 to 9.0 ng/g dry weight
(dw) with a higher contribution of the γ-HCH isomer
(range 31-76%), followed by α-HCH (range 24-
34%). DDTs were found in sediments at higher
concentrations than HCHs and ranged from 0.7 to 33
ng/g dw. The parent compound, p,p’-DDT, were
detected only in low concentrations (up to 1.3 ng/g
dw) and contributed with less than 18% to the sum
of DDTs in sediment (Covaci et al. 2006). Data on
the occurrence and levels of pesticide residues in the
river Danube and its tributaries collected from 10
Danube riparian countries were also presented
(Albanis et al. 1998). Most of the findings relate to
organochlorine pesticides (HCH isomers, HCB, and
DDT), atrazine and desethylatrazine. Simazine and
chlorinated phenols (2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-
trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol) were also
reported. The contamination levels were at the order
of 10-2 μg/L for both lindane and DDT except for
Romania where higher values have been found. The
concentrations of atrazine were at the level of 10-1
μg/L. The intensive agricultural use in the
catchments of these rivers may be future pollution
sources and can explain the detection of pesticides
along the main Romanian water courses. Well and
ground water pollution by triazine and
chloroacetanilides were also shown to be highest in
the estuarine areas, indicating that many of these
compounds are transported significant distances
from their application sites (Albanis et al. 1998).
The major inputs of atrazine, alachlor, simazine and
metolachlor occurred in May and June just after
their application. Atrazine, DEA, carbofuran,
simazine, diazinon, parathion ethyl and parathion
methyl were detected in rainfall water samples
collected in the agricultural area. The higher
concentrations in underground waters were
measured during the period June, following seasonal
application and diminished significantly in the fall
and winter. The higher concentrations of pesticides
detected in underground waters were 0.089 μg/L for
alachlor, 0.098 μg/L for atrazine, 0.205 μg/L for
desethylatrazine, 0.090 μg/L for carbofuran, 0.041
μg/L for metolachlor, 0.077 μg/L for molinate, 0.01
or propanil, 0.007 μg/L for parathion methyl
and 0.037 μg/L for simazine (Albanis et al. 1998).
Comparing these results with our data
outcomes that these high concentrations of
prohibited pesticides can be
ive and nevertheless illegal use in Central
Romanian agricultural fields.
According to our assessment pesticide
residues were detected in 12 out of 20 soil samples.
The DDT and DDE concentration in soil varied
between 50 μg/kg (apple orchards) and 20 μg/kg
(arable agricultural fields). Because our samples
were collected from 50 cm deep it is probable that
soil surface can h
115

used in
hysico-chemical properties of the α-HCH indicate a

Romania.
In similar studies DDT concentrations in
surface soil from agricultural land were significantly
higher at rural sites and only few samples (three out
of 48) exceeded the official European norms (Covaci
et al., 2003). The relatively high p,p’-DDT may
prove the presence of an aged DDT mixture.
Samples from individual farms, located in areas
where pesticides were not used or used only
sporadically, showed concentrations below LOQ.
The detection of DDT by other authors can be
attributed to the more recent use in Romanian
agriculture compared with Western Europe (DDT
was banned in 1985 in Romania) and to a very slow
degradability with a half-life in soil of 2000 days
(Dragan et al. 2006). The HCHs for soil samples
were under LOQ in concordance with other similar
studies that reporting much lower concentrations in
the Western and Eastern part of Romania compared
to the South. This shows the use for certain
agricultural purposes of HCH mixtures in parallel
with the DDT mixture. Moreover, the distribution of
HCH isomers indicated a mixed use of technical
HCHs versus pure lindane (Covaci et al., 2003).
Similar studies detailed the organochlorines in the
forested zones in all soil samples from eight Eastern
Romanian counties. The concentrations of OCPs
were in the following range: 0.2–1.4, 5–56, and 5–
95 ng/g of soil for HCB, sum HCHs, and sum DDTs,
respectively. Two samples containing higher
concentrations of HCHs and DDTs collected from
Bacau county. The γ-HCH isomer was predominant
(54–74%), followed by β- and α-HCH isomers (8–22
and 18–28%, respectively). This sample exceeded
the Romanian permitted value (50 ng/g of soil) for
β-HCH in agricultural soil (Dragan et al. 2006). In
Romania, two HCH formulations were used in the
past: technical lindane, containing 60–70% γ-HCH,
5–12% γ-HCH and 10–12% γ-HCH, and pure γ-
HCH (lindane). Only γ-HCH is insecticidal, while β-
HCH is more bio-accumulative. Moreover the
greater affinity for atmospheric transport than other
isomers.
p
All these results suggest the usage of pure
lindane rather than technical lindane and thereby a
predominant contamination through atmospheric
deposition of isomers volatilized from treated
agricultural soils. According to our studies dieldrin
was detected in soil samples, especially in
agricultural lands (Tab. 3). Dieldrin are highly
persistent insecticide, in similar studies were
detected in soil 15 years after its application
(Morrison et al., 2000). Therefore the presence in
soil can not be directly attributed to actual use.
Moreover many organisms, especially agricultural
pests (fruit flies, aphids and mites) are resistant to
Dieldrine. In comparative studies dieldrin was no
longer toxic to these insects at 120 d. These results
shows that dieldrine residing in soil become less
toxic with time, the extent of decline in
bioavailability may differ among different species,
and vigorous extraction may grossly overestimate
toxicity (Robertson & Alexander, 1998).
The concentrations of α-HCH and β-HCH in
eggs were 248 and 78.3 µg/kg respectively, both
exceeded the Romanian reference value (100 μg/kg
for α-HCH and 50 μg/kg for β-HCH) (Fig. 2). HCHs
were detected also in pork fat (61 and 26.9 μg/kg for
α-HCH and β-HCH, respectively).
This is in agreement with the detection of
HCHs in Romanian foodstuffs reported by other
authors. HCH-total was detectable in food (milk,
bread, diets, coffee), as well as in pork organs
collected from Romanian farms (Covaci et al.,
2004). Animal fat samples showed high
concentrations of HCHs, but only two samples (out
of 24) exceeded the EU norms (1000 ng/g fat)
(Covaci et al., 2001). Organochlorines, such as DDT
and its degradation product DDE, were present in
the egg samples in high values (222 µg/kg for DDT
and 35.3 µg/kg for DDE).



Figure 2. The chromatogram of egg samples.
116

In both egg samples, the concentration of
DDTs was above the EU maximum level of 50μg/kg
for sum DDT in foodstuffs (Tab. 3). DDT has a high
half-life time and persistence in the environment
long after its initial application as an insecticide (up
to 12 years). During this time, DDT and its
breakdown products may enter the food chain and
accumulate in fatty tissues of the human and animal
bodies therefore diet is the most important route for
organochlorine pesticides (bioaccumulation) (Felsot
et al., 2003).
Despite the existing regulatory framework,
undesirable amounts of banned pesticides can still be
found in agricultural products from Romania, but
also in human body (placenta, milk, urine) hair and
young body (serum, urine) (Covaci et al., 2001,
2002, 2004). HCHs were found in more than 98% of
the investigated human populations from Iasi,
Romania and β-HCH was the most prevalent HCH
isomer with a median value of 923 ng/g lw. The
DDT analogues (p,p′-DDE, o,p′- DDT and p,p′-
DDT) were measured in all human serum samples.
The major contributor (> 70%) to the sum DDT was
p,p′-DDE which was found at a median value of
1975 ng/g lw with a range between 340 and 24,280
ng/g lw. The levels of p,p′-DDE were significantly
higher in individuals with a rural main residence and
concentrations of most pollutants correlated
significantly with age (Dirtu et al. 2006).

4. CONCLUSIONS

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and
pesticides in particular, represent an issue of concern
in Romania both for the environment and public
health protection. Major problems include:
1. An absence of correct and systematic
information on persistent organic pollutants, and no
awareness regarding the danger on human and
environmental health;
2. There is no inventory of national pollution
sources for POPs;
3. Only the global figures of pesticide active
ingredients (tonnes/year) are reported;
4. There is no systematic control of food
production and consumption on the internal market;
5. There are no systematic studies to identify
the human and environmental burden with POPs and
the links between them (Vasilescu 1994, 2003).
The DDT has been prohibited in Romania in
the 1980’s, it may be illegally used in rural areas.
Although there is currently no direct link between
DDT and any negative human health effect, there is
growing evidence that it may disrupt reproductive
and endocrine functions (Ejaz et al., 2004).
Advocates of the continuing use of DDT as an
insecticide for disease vector control base their
argument on various factors: the unacceptably high
levels of mortality and morbidity caused by malaria,
the proven effectiveness of DDT in significantly
reducing malaria transmission, the relatively low
cost of DDT interventions, and the lack of any
sustainable alternative in many endemic countries
(Edwards, 2004), but this in definitely not the case in
Romania. Pesticides as HCHs, 2,4-D and Antrazine
can also induce carcinogenity and hormonal
dysfunction in human organism; therefore these
were classified in different categories by IARC and
U.S. EPA relating to their risk. Especially HCH and
Antrazine are known as inducing hormonal
dysfunction (Allen et al. 2008). A comprehensive
monitoring scheme is therefore needed through more
financial investment and commitment. An
investigation system for the evaluation of risks and
coordination of monitoring systems, as well as
building a database, is necessary in Romania to be
able to correlate causes and effects when dangerous
exposures are identified.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our research was financially supported by the
Institute of Research Programs of the Sapientia
Foundation. We acknowledge the technical support of the
laboratories WESSLING Romania Ltd and WESSLING
Hungary Ltd. The authors are grateful to Dr. Adrian
Covaci for his very helpful comments, statistical advices
and language corrections on draft of this manuscript. We
also acknowledge the observations and comments of the
reviewers.

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Received at 01. 09. 2009
Revised at 01. 02. 2010
Accepted for publication at: 23. 02. 2010
Published online: 28. 02. 2010