Abstract:Site investigation, human health risk assessment and derivation of recommended soil remediation goal were conducted in suspected DDT polluted area of a former DDT manufacturing site in China. It was found that the chemicals of concern (COCs) in the area around the wastewater treatment tank of the plant were mainly p, p'-DDT, p, p'-DDD, p, p'-DDE, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, chloroform and chlorobenzene. In the soil on the north and east sides of the tank vertical translocation of COCs was obvious, whereas in other parts of the site COCs were only found in the 0~50 cm soil layer. Of the first five COCs, carcinogenic risk was beyond 10-6. At some points non-carcinogenic hazard index of p, p'-DDT and chlorobenzene exceeded 1. Uncertainty analysis shows that soil ingestion and dermal contact accounted for more than 98% of the total risk of semi-volatile organic compounds such as p, p'-DDT, p, p'-DDD and p, p'-DDE, whereas, indoor air inhalation for more than 99% of the total risk of volatile organic compounds such as chlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzen and chloroform. Soil particle density, soil bulk density, and soil water content were sensitive parameters. The recommended soil remediation goal of p, p'-DDT, p, p'-DDD, p, p'-DDE, chlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzen, and chloroform are 5.84, 6.19, 4.36, 36.2, 0.55, and 0.02 mg kg-1, respectively.