Spatial distribution of Lindane concentration in topsoil across France.

Lindane [γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH)] is an organochlorine pesticide with toxic effects on humans. It is bioaccumulative and can remain in soils for long periods, and although its use for crop spraying was banned in France in 1998, it is possible that residues from before this time remain in the soil. The RMQS soil monitoring network consists of soil samples from 2200 sites on a 16 km regular grid across France, collected between 2002 and 2009.

Analyzing the spatial distribution of PCB concentrations in soils using below-quantification limit data.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are highly toxic environmental pollutants that can accumulate in soils. We consider the problem of explaining and mapping the spatial distribution of PCBs using a spatial data set of 105 PCB-187 measurements from a region in the north of France. A large proportion of our data (35%) fell below a quantification limit (QL), meaning that their concentrations could not be determined to a sufficient degree of precision.

Which persistent organic pollutants can we map in soil using a large spacing systematic soil monitoring design? A case study in Northern France.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) impact upon human and animal health and the wider environment. It is important to determine where POPs are found and the spatial pattern of POP variation. The concentrations of 90 molecules which are members of four families of POPs and two families of herbicides were measured within a region of Northern France as part of the French National Soil Monitoring Network (RMQS: Réseau de Mesures de la Qualité des Sols).

Spatial distribution of lindane in top soil of Northern France.

Lindane is a persistent organochlorine insecticide and the use of this insecticide in agriculture was banned in France in 1998. In this study we investigated the concentrations of lindane in top soil in Northern France and used robust geostatistics to map the geographical distribution of lindane. The study was based on a 16 km x 16 km grid covering an area of ca 25,000 km(2).