Keywords: 
• pentachlorophenol (PCP) /
• endocrine pollutants /
• water environment /
• contamination status /
• residue /
• schistosomiasis

Abstract: Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a typical endocrine disrupting pollutant and persistent organic pollutant with complex environmental fate and various toxic effects. PCP and its sodium salt had been widely employed as molluscicide in many schistosomiasis endemic areas of China for a long time period. In the present study, in order to understand the status of PCP contamination in water environment of China, PCP distribution and the corresponding influencing factors were determined and discussed based on its production and usage. PCP has been detected in many main rivers and lakes in China, and extremely higher concentrations of PCP have been detected in Yangtze River Basin, including Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. Although the concentrations of PCP in water environment of China were lower than the water quality criteria, our results showed that PCP contaminations have been extended from major rivers and lakes to the coast areas. The history of usage, the type of the area and the consumption of PCP were the main factors contributing the residues of PCP in ambient water environment. Concentrations of PCP in schistosomiasis endemic areas were significantly greater than that in the control areas. Even after 2003 when production of PCP was significantly decreased, the history of PCP usage was still the main factor for PCP residues. The adverse effects of PCP to the environment could last for a while, albeit the production of PCP was banned. Compared with other countries, concentrations of PCP in China were relatively higher, and a slightly increasing trend of PCP contamination was observed in water environment, which might be due to the reuse of PCP resulted from the reemergence of schistosomiasis. The migration and transformation of PCP and it’s environment-related byproducts in environmental media, health risk assessment, and remediation technology for PCP contaminated medium as well as substitutes should be addressed in future research.