ORGANOCHLORINE CONTAMINANTS IN SEDIMENTS OF THE TAURANGA HARBOR, NEW-ZEALAND

DDT, DDE, and DDD (up to 0.5 ng g-1 per compound) and traces of dieldr in (< 0.1 ng g-1), were detected in surficial sediments collected from four sites in the greater Tauranga Harbour. An elevated level of PCBs (19.9 ng g-1) was identified in a Waikareao Estuary sample. PCB and D DT levels of up to 24.1 ng g-1 and 5.38 ng g-1, respectively, were sub sequently detected in other eastern shore Waikareao Estuary sediment s amples. Higher levels of PCBs (68.6 and 73.8 ng g-1) and DDTs (total 7 .52 and 19.2 ng g-1) were detected in sediments from two eastern shore stormwater drains identified as the likely sources of the PCB and DDT burden entering the Waikareao Estuary. Black, carbonaceous, coal- and asphalt-like, particulate material (98% loss of organic carbon on ign ition), isolated by sieving a representative sediment sample, exhibite d DDT and PCB levels which were respectively 85 and 6 times higher tha n was the case for other sieved fractions.