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Environment and human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in India: A systematic review of recent and historical data
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been used in a wide range of agricultural and industrial commodities, resulting in vigorous deterioration of environment and human health. A number of studies on the occurrence of POPs confirm their presence in various environmental compartments and human body. In order to deal with this global concern, India has recently prepared the National Implementation Plan (NIP) of the Stockholm Convention. Common beliefs point at India as a hot spot of POP contamination and human exposure; however no systematic analysis was ever performed so far considering all available past data on POP occurrence. This review aims to examine the distribution pattern of POPs in multicompartment environment and human samples, meta-analysis of time trends in exposure levels to environment and humans, and cross country comparison of POP contamination with China. Based on this review, it can be concluded that the Indian environment and human population are highly contaminated by DDTs and HCHs; however scarcity of data on other POPs makes it challenging to assess their nationwide human and environmental exposure. No evidence of a general decline in DDT and HCH residues in the environment and human body come out from the meta-analysis of time trend. While comparing contamination levels between India and China, tendency towards decline in POP contamination is visible in China, unlike India.
... Nevertheless, these chemicals are costly, toxic for health, toxic leaching occurs in soil, seed pathogens are showing resistance, and the chemicals reach the water sources like rivers or sea, causing eutrophication, reducing soil fertility, reducing beneficial microbial activity, and altering the pH of the soil. The abundant use of conventional agrochemicals and runoff of their wastes also contributes to nutrient and food chain imbalances in ecosystems, leading to pollution of the environment and soil [13][14][15]. For this reason, it is imperative to implement sustainable agricultural practices to protect seeds from pests and insects while maintaining the agro-ecosystem. ...
... Conventional agrochemicals are discouraged as they are not contributing to sustainable agriculture seed treatment practices due to the issues of leaching, degradation, hydrolysis of agrochemicals. New technologies which are safe and economic, and based on green chemistry approaches are urgently needed to reduce environmental burden on soil [13][14][15]. ...
... As part of sustainable seed treatment practices, agrochemical usage is to be getting control, since they can contaminate the soil, water, turf, and other vegetation, as well as harm nontarget organisms such as plants, birds, animals, and fish. Agrochemicals which are used for seed treatment are absorbed by surrounding land and water bodies, entering the food chain and accumulating in body [13][14][15]. As far as their effects on crops are concerned, excessive application of these chemicals generates significant residues. ...
Agro seeds are vulnerable to environmental stressors, adversely affecting seed vigor, crop growth, and crop productivity. Different agrochemical-based seed treatments enhance seed germination, but they can also cause damage to the environment; therefore, sustainable technologies such as nano-based agrochemicals are urgently needed. Nanoagrochemicals can reduce the dose-dependent toxicity of seed treatment, thereby improving seed viability and ensuring the controlled release of nanoagrochemical active ingredients However, the applications of nanoagrochemicals to plants in the field raise concerns about nanomaterial safety, exposure levels, and toxicological implications to the environment and human health. In the present comprehensive review, the development, scope, challenges, and risk assessments of nanoagrochemicals on seed treatment are discussed. Moreover, the implementation obstacles for nanoagrochemicals use in seed treatments, their commercialization potential, and the need for policy regulations to assess possible risks are also discussed. Based on our knowledge, this is the first time that we have presented legendary literature to readers in order to help them gain a deeper understanding of upcoming nanotechnologies that may enable the development of future generation seed treatment agrochemical formulations, their scope, and potential risks associated with seed treatment.
... Similar calculations have not been made for India. However, fragmentary data on EDC levels in human and environmental samples in India suggest that pressure from these contaminants is similar to Europe and the US (Sharma et al. 2014a;Fång et al. 2015;Breivik et al. 2016;Katsikantami et al. 2016). Moreover, poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy, poor living conditions, and limited access to healthcare by a substantial fraction of the population are likely to make India more susceptible to severe social and health impacts of EDCs. ...
... A review of data on prioritized EDCs (e.g. dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), lindane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), etc.) reported elevated concentrations in the Indian environment and human population (compared to the international context including emerging economies like China) (Sharma et al. 2014a). Similarly, a recent global survey measuring selected EDCs (in particular DDT) in breastmilk, carried out by WHO and UNEP, highlighted that Indian women and infants are among the most exposed in the world (Berg et al. 2017). ...
... Similarly, the number of total deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALY) due to cancer doubled in India between 2009 and 2016 (Dhillon et al. 2018). Concurrently, there is documented evidence of increased EDC occurrence in both consumer products (reflecting global trends) and in the environment (Sharma et al. 2014a(Sharma et al. , 2021. Poor pollution control and chemical management combined with the rapidly changing socioeconomic conditions in India certainly play a role in exacerbating negative impacts (Kaveeshwar and Cornwall 2014;Mallath et al. 2014;Sharma et al. 2014b;Dutta and Khadgawat 2015). ...
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a prime concern for the environment and health globally. Research shows that in developing countries such as India both the environment and human populations are severely exposed to EDCs and consequently experience rising incidents of adverse health effects such as diabetes and cancers. In this paper, we discuss the current EDC management approach in India, critically assess its limitations, and describe opportunities for potential improvements. Foremost, current EDC management actions and interventions in India are fragmented and outdated, and far behind the modern and comprehensive approaches adopted in the European Union and other developed countries. Strong and well-planned actions are required on various fronts of science, policy, commerce, and public engagement. These actions include the adoption of a dedicated and modern regulatory framework for managing EDCs, enhancing capacity and infrastructure for EDC monitoring in the environment and human population, employing public–private partnership programs for not only managing EDCs but also in the sectors that indirectly contribute toward the mismanagement of EDCs in the country, and raising awareness on EDCs and promoting health-preserving consumption habits among the public. As India hosts a large proportion of the global human population and biodiversity, the success or failure of its actions will substantially affect the direction of global efforts to manage EDCs and set an example for other developing countries.
... Over 80,000 different chemicals have been introduced into manufacturing with few of these having appropriate toxicity or exposure testing prior to their use [1]. As a result, chemical contamination of the environment is pervasive [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Beginning in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) began measuring "background" levels of~300 environmental chemicals in humans demonstrating widespread human exposures with distinct race, age, and sex disparities [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. ...
... Despite the racial inequities apparent in chemical exposures in the United States, few studies have focused on population-based exposures in AAs in the Southeast despite regional differences in climate, housing, population density, culture, and racial/ethnic composition [23][24][25][26][27]. A potentially large contributing pathway to this exposure is harmful chemicals present in house dust [7,[28][29][30][31]. Many common environmental chemicals, including metals, pesticides, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, sequester in house dust [28,32]. ...
... Artic wildlife has experienced severe effects including immunotoxicity and disruption of development due to the elevated levels of POPs that gather in the artic regions [6,38,39]. In humans, chronic exposure to POPs has been linked to cancer, A potentially large contributing pathway to this exposure is harmful chemicals present in house dust [7,[28][29][30][31]. Many common environmental chemicals, including metals, pesticides, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, sequester in house dust [28,32]. ...
We developed and applied a method for measuring selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (i.e., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) in dust collected from pregnant African Americans (AAs) in Atlanta using isotope dilution gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Limits of quantification were ranged from 0.10 to 2.50 ng/g dust. NIST standard reference material measurements demonstrated the robustness of our method. Our accuracies ranged from 82 to 108%, relative standard deviations ranged from 2 to 16%, and extraction recoveries ranged from 76 to 102%. We measured POPs in dust collected from 34 homes of pregnant AAs participating in the Atlanta AA birth cohort study who were enrolled from 2016 to 2019. Concentrations of POPs were detected in all samples with the frequencies of detection ranging from 8 to 100%. Concentrations of PBDE congeners 99 and 47, p,p’-DDT, and PCB153 were detected at some of the highest concentrations with geometric means of 1270, 730, 63.4 and 240 ng/g, respectively. The ratio of DDT/DDE was quite large (~2.7) indicating that p,p’-DDT remains intact in homes for long periods of time. These data demonstrate that care should be taken to remediate POPs in indoor dust, especially in vulnerable, disparate segments of the population.
... Over 80,000 different chemicals have been introduced into manufacturing with few of these having appropriate toxicity or exposure testing prior to their use [1]. As a result, chemical contamination of the environment is pervasive [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Beginning in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) began measuring "background" levels of~300 environmental chemicals in humans demonstrating widespread human exposures with distinct race, age, and sex disparities [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. ...
... Despite the racial inequities apparent in chemical exposures in the United States, few studies have focused on population-based exposures in AAs in the Southeast despite regional differences in climate, housing, population density, culture, and racial/ethnic composition [23][24][25][26][27]. A potentially large contributing pathway to this exposure is harmful chemicals present in house dust [7,[28][29][30][31]. Many common environmental chemicals, including metals, pesticides, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, sequester in house dust [28,32]. ...
... Artic wildlife has experienced severe effects including immunotoxicity and disruption of development due to the elevated levels of POPs that gather in the artic regions [6,38,39]. In humans, chronic exposure to POPs has been linked to cancer, A potentially large contributing pathway to this exposure is harmful chemicals present in house dust [7,[28][29][30][31]. Many common environmental chemicals, including metals, pesticides, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, sequester in house dust [28,32]. ...
We developed and applied a method for measuring selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) [i.e, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)] in dust collected from pregnant African Americans (AAs) in Atlanta. Our method used a liquid-liquid extraction followed by cleanup using a Florisil solid phase extraction car-tridge. We analyzed the extracts using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electron impact ionization and multiple reaction monitoring. Quantification was achieved using isotope dilution calibration. Limits of quantification were ranged from 0.10-2.50 ng/g dust. NIST standard reference material measurements demonstrated the robustness of our method. Our ac-curacies ranged from 82-108%, relative standard deviations ranged from 2-16%, and extraction recoveries ranged from 76-102%. We measured POPs in dust collected from 34 homes of pregnant AAs participating in the Atlanta AA birth cohort study who were enrolled from 2016-2019. Concentrations of POPs were detected in all samples with the frequencies of detection ranging from 8-100%. Concentrations of PBDE congeners 99 and 47, p,p’-DDT, and PCB153 were detected at some of the highest concentrations with geometric means of 1270, 730, 63.4 and 240 ng/g, re-spectively. The ratio of DDT/DDE was quite large (~2.7) indicating that p,p’-DDT remains intact in homes for long periods of time. These data demonstrate that care should be taken to remediate POPs in indoor dust, especially in vulnerable, disparate segments of the population.
... Rivers are important medium to scrutinize POPs about their transport and distribution in the environment (Hung et al., 2013). POPs presence in water can contaminate humans (Sharma et al., 2014) as water is used for drinking (Mushtaq et al., 2020) and crop production (Edokpayi et al., 2017). Higher POPs concentration in the surface water can be due to the extensive use of antifouling paints in boats (Amaraneni and Pillala, 2000;Wezenbeek, et al., 2018, Lin et al., 2009, and dry and wet deposition from the atmosphere (O'Driscoll et al., 2013). ...
... Higher POPs concentration in the surface water can be due to the extensive use of antifouling paints in boats (Amaraneni and Pillala, 2000;Wezenbeek, et al., 2018, Lin et al., 2009, and dry and wet deposition from the atmosphere (O'Driscoll et al., 2013). Groundwater is also contaminated by POPs (Prakash et al., 2004), which can be due their widespread exploitation in agricultural sector (Sharma et al., 2014). POPs can also contaminate soil either by direct use of such chemicals in agricultural field (Namiki et al., 2013), disease control , and industrial production (Weber et al., 2018) or indirect deposition from the atmosphere (Hanedar et al., 2019). ...
... DDT was used extensively after "World War II" in the USA for agriculture crops mostly cotton (Stockwell, 2008) and was also used to provide protection to soldiers against insect borne diseases (Kitchen et al., 2009). DDT as insecticide is banned but is still used for control of malaria in India (Sharma et al., 2014). Despite banning of DDT in several countries (Guimarães et al., 2007), the compound remain in the ecosystem for long time owing to its stability (Brown and Wania, 2008) and reluctance to degradation (van den Berg, 2009). ...
... West Africa's pesticide usage has significantly increased in recent years, yet it remains relatively low compared to other global countries. Although several studies have reported that the Indian environment and human population are highly contaminated by DDTs and HCHs (Rajendran et al., 2005;Subramanian et al., 2007;Chakraborty et al., 2017;Sharma et al., 2019), the scarcity of data on other POPs makes it challenging to assess their nationwide human and environmental exposure (Sharma et al., 2014). The Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971 have been in place in India for five decades, but their administration has revealed gaps and limited control over their production and use. ...
... Over the years, the meta-analysis of time trend shows no indication of a general decrease in DDT and HCH residues in the environment and human body. In contrast to India, whose POP pollution levels are comparable, China shows a trend to be less contaminated (Sharma et al., 2014). ...
... The global economy has developed rapidly in the industrial and agricultural sectors over the last half-century, resulting in exponential production and use of industrial and agrochemicals, which may enter in the environment as potentially toxic contaminants (Sharma et al., 2014). Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a type of contaminants that is becoming more prevalent worldwide. ...
... Their toxic properties need monitoring (Annamalai and Namasivayam, 2015;Jones, 2021;Sharma et al., 2014). Among POPs, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging contaminants listed in the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty that lists chemicals whose use should be phased out or restricted to protect human health and the environment (UNEP, 2001). ...
Twenty-six samples of wild boar liver and muscle from the Central Apennine Mountain (Italy) were analysed for 19 perfluoro-alkyl substances (PFASs), 10 polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and 3 hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). All samples were analysed by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for PBDEs and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for PFASs and HBCDs, using an in-house developed analytical procedure. The brominated flame retardants (BFR) levels in livers were negligible: Σ10PBDEs reached a maximum value of 0.079 μg/kg, whereas HBCDs were not quantified in almost all of the samples analysed. BFR concentrations in muscles were higher, but not significantly therefore, for Σ10PBDEs lower bound, a mean value of 0.045 μg/kg (0.005–0.155 μg/kg range) was measured, while α-HBCD was quantified with a maximum of 0.084 μg/kg in 9 of the samples. Only two muscles contained all 3 HBCD isomers at concentrations of approximately 0.200 μg/kg. Σ19PFAS in the 26 wild boar livers was in the range 31.9–228 μg/kg, with a mean value of 87.7 μg/kg, reaching levels significantly higher than in muscles, which exhibited a mean concentration of 3.08 μg/kg (0.59–9.12 μg/kg range). Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most prevalent compound in all liver samples, accounting for more than half of the total PFASs contamination, confirming that the liver is the primary target organ for PFOS exposure Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), which accounts for 25–30-% of the total contamination, was the most abundant compound in the muscle, followed by PFOS.
The estimated daily intake (EDIs) of BFRs remained below the estimated chronic human daily dietary intake (Dr,h) defined from European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Furthermore, the exposure to PFASs in muscle was 7.7 times lower than the EFSA's tolerable daily intake (TDI).
In contrast, exposure due to liver consumption was significant: the EDI exceeded the EFSA's 2020 TDI by approximately 7 times.
... These include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/-furans (PCDDs/Fs), several organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) (including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeBC)), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) that are regulated under the Stockholm Convention (SC). Although the production and use of these POPs are internationally banned or restricted, they have still active sources such as obsolete ☆ This paper has been recommended for acceptance by Eddy Y. Zeng materials, old stockpiles or improperly managed waste repositories (Breivik et al., 2002;Sharma et al., 2014a). Moreover, in some developing countries (Including India), DDT is allowed for malaria vector control (UNEP, 2017) and some other OCPs may currently be illegally used. ...
... Data on environmental contamination and human exposure on key EDCs are scarce and fragmentary in India. Available reports focusing on POPs have consistently indicated high contamination in the environment and humans in India (Chakraborty et al., 2010(Chakraborty et al., , 2013Devanathan et al., 2012;Kannan et al., 1992;Sharma et al., 2014a;van den Berg et al., 2017). So far, only a few studies reported concentrations of EDCs in Indian food basket (Battu et al., 2005;Sharma and Parisi, 2016) presenting a seminal yet partial depiction of dietary exposure. ...
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in diet are a health concern and their monitoring in food has been introduced in the European Union. In developing countries, EDC dietary exposure data are scarce, especially from areas perceived as pollution hotspots, including industrialized countries like India. Several persistent organic pollutants (POPs) act as EDCs and pose a pressure to human health mainly through dietary exposure. In the present study, a range of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), poly-brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dioxins and furans were measured in several food items collected from Indian urban (Delhi) and peri-urban (Dehradun) areas. Food basket contamination data were used to estimate EDC dietary exposure and compare it with that of the average European population estimated from available monitoring data. All the target contaminants were found in most food items, especially in dairies and meat products. OCPs were the main contributers to the measured EDC contamination. Food supplied to Delhi’s markets had higher EDC contamination than that supplied to the peri-urban market in Dehradun. Despite lax compliance and control measures, Indian dietary exposure of OCPs and PBDEs were comparable with that of Europe and were lower for PCBs and dioxins. Higher meat consumption in Europe only partly explained this pattern which was driven also by the higher EDC residues in some European food items. A substantial part of endocrine disrupting potential in the diet derives from food and animal feeds internationally traded between developed and developing countries. With increasingly globalized food systems, internationally harmonized policies on EDC content in food can lead to better protection of health in both these contexts.
... These persistent pollutants are ubiquitous in atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic environments [52]. Due to their lipophilic properties, POPs accumulate in lipid-rich tissues and organs, including the liver, blood, brain, adipose tissue, and kidney, and bioaccumulate in mammals, humans, fish, and invertebrates [54,55]. ...
Recent evidence suggests that exposure to environmental toxins, both short-term and long-term, can increase the risk of developing neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias) and acute brain injury (i.e., stroke). For stroke, the latest systematic analysis revealed that exposure to ambient particulate matter is the second most frequent stroke risk after high blood pressure. However, preclinical and clinical stroke investigations on the deleterious consequences of environmental pollutants are scarce. This review examines recent evidence of how environmental toxins, absorbed along the digestive tract or inhaled through the lungs, affect the host cellular response. We particularly address the consequences of environmental toxins on the immune response and the microbiome at the gut and lung barrier sites. Additionally, this review highlights findings showing the potential contribution of environmental toxins to an increased risk of stroke. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying exposure to environmental toxins has the potential to mitigate stroke risk and other neurological disorders.
... POPs are remarkably resistant to environmental degradation; they can endure in soils, aquatic environments, food chains, and, eventually, human bodies, even after production has stopped. Due to their lipophilic properties, these pollutants can accumulate in various environmental elements, in the tissues of organisms, and over long distances through the atmosphere [31]. The characteristics mentioned above facilitate their biomagnification and bioaccumulation in animals, presenting noteworthy risks to human well-being and the integrity of natural ecosystems. ...
Environmental toxins pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health. Monitoring and assessing these toxins are crucial for effective environmental management and public health protection. Recently, plant species have garnered increasing attention as potential bioindicators for identifying and evaluating ecological toxins. Since plants often come into touch with harmful compounds in soil, water, and the atmosphere, they are particularly valuable for analyzing how human activities influence the terrestrial ecosystem, the aquatic system, and the atmosphere. This review paper emphasizes using plant species as a resource for tracking environmental pollution and analyzing contaminants. We focused on plants because they are significant indicators of soil, water, and air quality changes. Many plants have been used as bio-indicators to assess and predict pollution, toxicity, and environmental changes. These include Allium cepa, Vicia faba, Pisum sativum, Zea mays, Nicotiana tabacum, lichens, and mosses. The idea of bioindicators is discussed in the current paper, with a focus on plants as possible candidates for bioindicators for toxin assessment and related outcomes.
... According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to POPs can result in unusually high rates of morbidity and increased mortality in wildlife such as certain fish, birds, and mammals (Han and Currell, 2017). After POPs accumulate in lake organisms, they will affect the health of the organisms by affecting gene arrangement, gene expression, and normal hormone secretion (Sanganyado et al., 2021;Tkaczyk et al., 2020;Sharma et al., 2014). Previous studies show that POPs can damage the immune, nervous, and reproductive systems of a variety of organisms (fish, shellfish, algae, etc.) in lakes, which can manifest as intestinal damage, metabolic disorders, etc. Han and Currell, 2017;Wan et al., 2015). ...
Lakes are the main reservoirs of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from land, atmosphere and rivers. POPs in lakes undergo complex exchange, transformation, and degradation between water-air-sediment-biota interfaces, which are constrained and regulated by various physical, chemical and biological factors. POPs can affect ecological conditions, chemical properties of water and sediments, and biodiversity of the lake system. Therefore, it is important to study the sources, migration, transformation, environmental behavior and ecological impacts of POPs in lake ecosystems. This review summarizes research progress on detection technologies, diversity and origins, historical records, migration and transformation, distribution patterns, degradation and toxic effects of POPs in lakes. Finally, future directions related to POPs in lakes were summarized.
... Human could be chronically exposed to OCPs and PCBs via the consumption of food items, particularly those derived from fish, meat, and dairy sources (Schecter et al., 2010;Sirot et al., 2012). Although the majority of OCPs and PCBs have been banned in the 1970s in China and other countries, they are still widely detectable in human blood samples, due to their properties on persistence, bioaccumulation, and migration (Sharma et al., 2014;Sjödin et al., 2014). Studies have indicated that exposure to OCPs and PCBs can disrupt endocrine system, and were associated with a series of agingrelated diseases, such as dysglycemia, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Langer et al., 2007;Lee et al., 2022;Pérez-Carrascosa et al., 2021;Zhang et al., 2023). ...
This study aimed to assess the relationships between exposure to individual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and their mixture and arterial stiffness and explore whether adherence to an ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) could mitigate these associations. The cross-sectional study enrolled 1437 Chinese adults between March and May 2019 in Wuhan, China. OCPs and PCBs concentrations were measured using solid phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). CVH was determined by three behavioral and four biological metrics and categorized as ideal, intermediate, and poor CVH. We applied generalized linear model and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to evaluate the associations of exposure to individual OCPs or PCBs and their mixture with baPWV, respectively. We found that participants with detectable levels of heptachlor epoxide, PCB-153, and PCB-180 had higher baPWV (β: 34.25, 95% CI 14.28–54.22; β: 27.64, 95% CI 7.90–47.38; and β: 30.51, 95% CI 10.68–50.35) than those with undetectable levels. In WQS regression, the mixture of OCPs and PCBs was related to a higher baPWV (β: 24.93, 95% CI 2.70–47.15). Compared with participants with ideal CVH and undetectable OCPs or PCBs levels, those with poor CVH and detectable OCPs or PCBs levels had the highest increase in baPWV (heptachlor epoxide: β: 147.94, 95% CI 112.52–183.55; PCB-153: β: 150.22, 95% CI 115.40–185.04; PCB-180: β: 147.02, 95% CI 111.66–182.38). Our findings suggested that individual OCPs, PCBs, and their mixture exposure were positively associated with arterial stiffness, and adherence to an ideal CVH may mitigate the adverse effect.
... The microbial communities in the Ganges River and their responses to anthropogenic inputs remain essentially uncharacterized by cultureindependent, metagenomic techniques (Sharma et al., 2014;Prakash et al., 2022). Halting human activities in the river is likely to influence the proliferation and distribution of fecal coliform bacteria including Escherichia coli (Miller et al., 2010). ...
The spread of Covid -19 has reduced the human intervention in aquatic ecosystems, which has shown a discernible improvement in air and water quality. Ganges River, being historical, economic and cultural icon of India providing multiple ecosystem services as industrial, provisioning, regulatory and cultural services constitute important habitat for Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica). The surfacing of dolphin in Ganga river is patchy and unpredictable. The present study unravels 25 different chemical, microbiological, biological and metagenomics of most abundant bacteria at dolphin surfacing sites in Ganges water during October, 2017, February 2018 and January 2021 to elicit the impact of Covid-19 lock down. at the Garhmukteshwar (28.7601°N, 78.1437°E) stretch in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The most abundant bacteria at dolphin surfacing site was Bacillus subtilis in February 2018 which was replaced by Aeromonas sp in January 2021. The zooplankton community was dominated by rotifers during pre Covid period however the dominance pattern recorded a shift towards larger herbivorous crustacean species during Covid -19 lock down. Overall bacterial count decreased whereas Chl a level increased during the lock down. The total zooplankton abundance did not show significant difference but relative proportion of larger herbivorous crustacean zooplankton increased in January2021 samples. The present results convincingly establish effects of shutdown on chemical, metagenomics and biological components of the riparian ecosystem and the information of micro to meso planktonic community may be useful for characterizing dolphin surfacing sites, enhancing existing water quality monitoring efforts and also for human epidemiological studies associated with recreational use of Ganga water.
... These organic pollutants are highly toxic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic. They persist in water and soil for years and can accumulate in living organisms through the food chain (Sharma et al. 2014). Heavy metals, on the other hand, cannot undergo any transformations and can be toxic when prescribed concentration in the environment exceeds. ...
Potential removal of emerging organic pollutants, heavy metals and trace elements using the reed plant Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud was evaluated in the year 2020. HPLC analysis showed that the removal efficiency of pyrene and dibutyl phthalate at the end of four-week experiments were 87.37 ± 4.95% and 83.67 ± 5.62%, respectively. Investigation of heavy metals through ICP-AES showed that the efficiency of heavy metal removal was in order of Ba > Zn > As > Cu > Al > Pb > Cd > Cr > Ag. Trace elements such as P, K and Na were removed as high as 70 % from the sewage. Analysis of Phragmites sp., indicated that the removed heavy metals from sewage was mostly found in roots and less translocated to the shoot system. Hence this model study could be extrapolated so that P. australis could serve as efficient biomitigator for the removal of emerging organic pollutants, heavy metals, and trace elements. Bangladesh J. Bot. 52(1): 9-15, 2023 (March)
... The persistence of these compounds in the environment is due to their resistance to biological, photolytic, and chemical degradation. Additionally, their low solubility in water, high liposolubility, and relatively high vapor pressure increase their mobility in the air (Trujillo, 2006;Sharma et al., 2014;Mamontova and Mamontov, 2022). In the Stockholm Convention (2001), it was agreed to initiate the regulation (synthesis, production, and commercialization) of different highly toxic and persistent chemical substances, including Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) (e.g., DDT, aldrin, lindane γ-BCH, α-BCH, β-HCH, methoxychlor, etc.) used against different types of pests, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) used as dielectrics in electrical transformers, and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) used as heat exchangers in dielectric uids and as ame retardants in plastics and foams, respectively. ...
In this study, the ability of Poly (ethylene vinyl acetate) (EVA) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to uptake persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 19 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) was evaluated in passive environmental monitoring samplers. The compounds adsorbed on the polymers surface, were extracted with n-hexane and methanol. Afterward, they were quantified by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS ² ). In the process of uptaking, a fast accumulation kinetics for both polymeric materials were observed. Generally, the compounds with lower molecular weight (186-291.9 g/mol) and lower K OA (6.17-6.82) reached the equilibrium region in less than 1 day, while the compounds with high molecular weight (318-464 g/mol), the equilibrium region was reached after 10 days. Finally, the GFF-EVA was used in a pilot sampling test in the city of Santiago de Cali (Colombia) in four sampling campaigns that were carried out between March and May 2019 in an exposure time of 15 days. Ten (10) PCBs and thirteen (13) OCPs were detected. The highest concentrations of these POPs were detected at the following stations: Transitoria, ERA-Obrero, La Flora and Base Aérea. The evaluated polymers proved to be suitable and promising materials for monitoring POPs due to their low cost, easy implementation, and deployment.
... They have the speed of absorbing lead by replacing calcium in their bodies and storing it in bone structures. Capacitors and, respectively, the proportion of samples exceeding the allowable limit for lead is 100 % in milk big % pasteurized condensate and one in the milk of adults and children, and 83.3 % for lead in infant formula and 33.3 and 16.6 % growth in pasteurized milk and intensive, the results showed no significant difference between the rates of the concentrations of lead, copper, among all kinds of raw milk in the study and the appearance of significant difference in the rate of the concentration of copper in powdered milk for adults and children on pasteurized milk and condenser [53,54]. ...
The dairy industry is not usually linked with simple environmental problems, its impression of the environment with different troubles. During the last decades, several types of treatment and procedures have been applied to relieve contaminants from dairy wastewater before being discharged into the environment. The procedure used in this work has green items and saves energy. This route is termed membrane distillation (MD). The method is defined as a contemporary method that can be summed up in financial expenses and electrical effort in addition to the guests and even preservation or care. Recompenses of this system could be summarized in economical, physical as well as Operation and Maintenance (O&M) attributes. Synthetic models of dairy wastewater have been prepared. Physiochemical analysis has been done to have the best decision on the implementation of treatment. American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and Water Environment Federation (WEF) have been used as references for mad these tests. The results gathered to show the ability to remove lead at a rate of 98.89%. This figure could be prepared as a high value compared with other techniques' efficiency. The operation temperature to get the best treatment has been 15°C, which is very close to the normal medium. The best removal could be obtained at a temperature of 15°C. The fluctuation of temperature could be a role in rising or decreasing removal efficiency but to some extent.
... The residue of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in farmland is a critical environmental issue due to the high-toxicity, thermal and chemical stability (Sharma et al., 2014;Feng et al., 2019Feng et al., , 2020He et al., 2021). Anaerobic reductive dechlorination of OCPs is considered as the most efficient bioremediation pathway for soil removal of OCPs (Cheng et al., 2019;Feng et al., 2021;Yuan et al., 2021a). ...
... La acumulación de plaguicidas en los tejidos de la biota acuática por encima de cierto nivel genera alteraciones del sistema endocrino, parámetros bioquímicos y fisiológicos alteraciones con efectos a nivel histológico, morfológico, pérdida de fertilidad, degradación de semen, anomalías de las gónadas, caída de la tasa de eclosión y tasa de supervivencia de alevín [48,49]. Estudios sobre el efecto de los plaguicidas organoclorados en peces teleósteos señalan que una manifestación de la toxicidad se presenta como una alteración en la osmorregulación y transporte de sustancias en el intestino y branquias [50]. ...
Abstract The excessive use of pesticides produced by agriculture, industry and anthropic activities generates negative effects on the environment and human beings. These chemical substances reach rivers and lakes through runoff or leaching and groundwater through infiltration. The objective of this study was to identify the effects caused by pesticides on aquatic fauna through a bibliographic review in order to provide recommendations for improvement and future surveys. The methodology used was based on a bibliographic review that subsequently allowed the information collected to be analyzed and presented in tables and arguments to propose recommendations for improvement. The main results indicate that in aquatic biota, pesticides reduce phytoplankton, cause problems in the functioning of aquatic species and in the worst case a decrease in the population. On the other hand, humans are also affected through the consumption of contaminated species. Finally, the study concludes by considering that the reduction and adequate management of pesticides can be carried out through the replacement of pesticides by the chemical substance produced by garlic, social awareness, regulatory policies that are applicable, monitoring and evaluation that allow obtaining information to subsequently generate alternatives for improvement against pesticide contamination.
... Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that generally have lipophilic properties adversely affecting human and environmental health by accumulating in tissues, transferring from one species to the next through the food web, and being transported between countries (Sharma et al. 2014;Kissa 2001). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a water-soluble contaminant contrary to the classical apolar POPs, binds protein-rich tissues like the liver, circulates in the blood, and persists for years (Giesy and Kannan 2001;Jones et al. 2003;Olsen et al. 2007). ...
Highly persistent perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is an industrial fluorinated organic chemical with significant bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the toxic effects of sublethal PFOS on the aquatic invertebrate organism, narrow-clawed crayfish [Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823]. The 96 h LC50 value was determined as 48.81 mg/L (34.19–63.68 mg/L) with probit analysis. The sublethal experimental design was formed into four groups solvent control (DMSO, dimethyl sulphoxide), non-treated control group, and 1/10 (5 mg/L) and 1/100 (0.5 mg/L) of 96 h LC50 of PFOS, and crayfish were exposed for 48 h, 7 d, and 21 d under laboratory conditions. Total haemocyte counts (THCs) decreased, while the haemolymph total antioxidant status (TAS) values increased (p < 0.05) after exposure to 0.5 and 5 mg/L PFOS for 48 h, 7 d, and 21 d. Haemolymph total oxidative stress (TOS) levels significantly increased at 5 mg/L PFOS concentration (p < 0.05). Catalase (CAT) activities increased at both concentrations after 48 h and 7 d and then returned to control levels after 21 d; whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities did not change in muscle tissue (p > 0.05). GPX and CAT activities decreased, but SOD activity increased in hepatopancreas tissue (p < 0.05). SOD activity at both concentrations and CAT activity at 5 mg/L PFOS exposure decreased in gill tissue, while GPX activity increased at both concentrations of 48 h and 7 d and returned to control values on day 21 of exposure. Histopathological alterations were detected in hepatopancreas and gill tissues. Lamellar deformations, epithelial hyperplasia, and haemocytic infiltrations were observed in the gill tissues, whereas tubular degeneration, tubule loss, necrosis, and lesions in the hepatopancreas tissues were the major recorded alterations. As a result, the sublethal concentrations of PFOS have toxic effects on crayfish and histologically cause tissue damage. Our findings also support a better understanding of the early toxicological effects of PFOS in freshwater ecosystems. Also, it could be concluded that A. leptodactylus is a reliable model for examining histopathological alterations and differences in enzyme activities together with the haemolymph findings in toxicology studies amid aquatic species.
... It stays in the plant and eventually enters the food chain, threatening humans [7][8]. Deposition of pesticides in soil releases soil organisms directly, increasing risk to other higher organisms through nutrition, and can have serious impacts on soil ecosystems, aquatic environment, plants, and human health [9][10]. Certain pesticides such as Chlorpyrifos, glyphosate, copper oxychloride, Dicofol, harm human health and the environment [11][12][13][14]. ...
The essence of pesticides application is for the control of varieties of weeds, disease-causing organisms, and pests that
are capable of causing damage to plants. But unregulated pesticides usage in frequently it’s highly harm for surrounding
environment and agriculture products. Pesticides are used to increase crop productivity especially in tea garden because
the tea plant is harvested numerous times each year, the time between pesticides application and tea plucking is shorter
than for compared to other crops. As a result, residues of organochlorine, organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroids
pesticides residues will be accumulated in plant parts, water, soil, air, and biota. It stays in the soil, water and plant
eventually enters the food chain threatening humans, and create loss of soil biodiversity, degradation of aquatic
community. It’s also decreased the tea consignment exporting the key objective of this review paper is to examine
different types of research works about the effect of pesticides on tea garden soil, water and tea plant. This study as well
focused in addition which pesticides compounds frequently detected in tea gardens. The need maintainable approaches,
new innovative ideas such information should be provided the tea farmers. Strictly follow pesticides stringent rules &
regulations (maximum residues level). It is more help full for decrease the pesticides residues. Hence further study will
be essential in this field to regulate the use of pesticides and to overcome the problems relating to the use of chemical
fertilizers and pesticides in the tea gardens
... In this modern age and current world, different forms of pollution are continuously destroying our surroundings and causing many environmental problems including global warming [141], due to industrialization [145]. As a consequence, the environment has out-turned with harmful hazardous chemicals that can affect our environment [136]. Low production of crops and soil pollution has occurred due to these toxic agents resulting in the imbalance of proper lifestyle [57]. ...
... Large amounts of contamination, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), nutrients and heavy metals, are introduced into estuarine and coastal systems because of rapid increases in agricultural, industrial and domestic activities, which are causing a series of toxicological impacts on marine species worldwide (Islam and Tanaka, 2004). POPs are widely used in agricultural and industrial processes and have attracted considerable interest because of their ubiquity, persistence, bioaccumulation, and biotoxicity (Sharma et al., 2014). Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), comprising 10 homologs and 209 congeners with various numbers and positions of chlorine atoms, are commonly used as a heat transfer medium in capacitors and transformers and are also perfect additives in industrial materials, such as dyed paper, plastics and paints, because of their high thermoresistance and low electrical conductivity (Ishikawa et al., 2007;Yu et al., 2014). ...
... Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are the lipophilic chemical substances produced during human and agricultural production (Lallas, 2001;Sharma et al., 2014). POPs can accumulate in a variety of environmental compartments and biota, resist biological and photochemical degradation, and migrate long distances in the atmosphere (Frank and Mackay, 1993;Wong et al., 2006). ...
Antarctica is widely regarded as a sink for persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, there is a scarcity of data on the occurrence and spatial pattern of POPs in Antarctica, especially in the cold-xeric East Antarctica. Here, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soils from the Larsemann Hills, the second-largest ice-free area along East Antarctica, were investigated. It is shown that the main OCP contaminants were HCB, p,p’-DDD and δ-HCH (3.7–1522.3 pg g⁻¹, 38.2–2276.6 pg g⁻¹ and < LOD–570 pg g⁻¹, respectively). OCPs in soils were primarily caused by long-distance atmospheric transport, but local sources can be found in areas heavily impacted by local human activities. Among DDTs and HCHs, only p,p’-DDD and δ-HCH were detected, indicating that DDTs and HCHs have aged. For PCBs (14.1–993.4 pg g⁻¹), low-chlorinated PCB congeners were found in soil samples far from the station areas (Zhongshan, Progress II, and Progress I), possibly due to long-range atmospheric transport, while high levels of high-chlorinated PCB were found in the soils inside the station area (Law Base) and close to the main road, possibly associated with local station activities. Among the measured PBDEs (81.8–695.5 pg g⁻¹), BDE-209 was the most frequently observed species, and the low-BDE found in soil samples could be from BDE-209 photodegradation. The majority of samples containing high concentrations of BDE-209 are concentrated in the station areas, implying that its source may be related to local station activities.
... Due to pesticide application, the crops may volatize and be blown into nearby areas that may threaten wildlife. Indian agriculture is largely traditional oriented and pest management is a built-in process but not a separate activity (Sharma et al., 2014;Yadav et al., 2015). India stands next to China in vegetable production and due to inadequate management and residual toxicity, the development of the export market is causing a prime concern. ...
The main purpose of this experiment was to understand pesticide residues persistence and their toxicity level in vegetables. In the present study pesticide residues in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and capsicum (Capsium annuum L.) vegetables cultivated in Tumakuru, Gubbi, Kunigal and Pavagada taluks in Tumkur district were analysed. In methodology, samples of 1 kg each were collected, cut into small pieces, macerated in a grinder and used for the analysis. Pesticides were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed tomato samples of Pavagada recorded acephate (0.346 mg/kg), dichlorvos (0.189 mg/kg), fenvalerate (0.057 mg/kg) and Tumakuru samples recorded phorate (0.072 mg/kg) residues higher than MRLs (Maximum residue levels). Chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin-g and cypermethrin were below detection level (BDL) in all the samples. Cyfluthrin-β recorded highest in Kunigal samples (0.294 mg/kg), Tumakuru and Gubbi samples showed BDL. Deltamethrin was highest in Pavagada (0.296 mg/kg) samples and Tumakuru and Kunigal samples revealed BDL. Pavagada samples (0.026 mg/kg) showed monocrotophos residues higher than MRLs. In capsicum samples, acephate residue was highest in Tumakuru samples (0.333 mg/kg), highest chlorpyrifos (0.153 mg/kg) in Kunigal samples, deltamethrin (0.381 mg/kg), fenvalerate (0.168 mg/kg) and phorate (0.089 mg/kg) residues were higher than MRLs in Pavagada samples. Cyfluthrin-β (0.045 mg/kg) was high in Tumakuru and dichlorvos (0.042 mg/kg) high in Pavagada samples. Cyhalothrin-g, cypermethrin and monocrotophos were BDL in all the samples. An attempt has been made to assess the different pesticides usage and their adverse impacts on vegetables, which are backbone to afford assistance for an extensive array of investigators.
... Các hợp chất POPs đa phần là các dẫn xuất halogen, tương đối bền vững và khó phân hủy sinh học. Tính ổn định và độc tính của POPs phụ thuộc rất nhiều vào số lượng các nguyên tử halogen có trong thành phần [6]. DDT là tên viết tắt của dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane, là chất có độ bền vững và độc tính rất cao, rất khó bị phân huỷ trong môi trường tự nhiên. ...
A robust and accurate tight-binding quantum chemical method was performed to study adsorption process of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and g-C3N4 modified with nickel cluster (Ni2). The adsorption energy, charges on atoms, bond orders have been calculated and analysed. The obtained results indicate that the adsorption of DDT on the pristine g-C3N4 is physical of nature. Ni2 cluster can be easily doped on g-C3N4 due to the formation of chemical bonds. The Ni2-g-C3N4 system exhibits enhanced adsorption ability for DDT.
... The incidence of such EOP is anticipated to influence humans through altering thyroid capacity, insusceptibility, and endocrinal disturbance, causing malignancy (Jones and De Voogt 1999). Hyperactivity is furthermore seen with messes occurring in learning and memory (Sharma et al. 2014). EOP unfavorably influences untamed life and amphibian species with reproductive ailments and sometimes leads to porphyria, which might be an extreme state of gathering porphyrin inside the body that hinders the creation of red platelets inside the body (Ashraf 2017). ...
Many untreated and partly treated wastewater from the home and commercial resources is being discharged into the aquatic environment these days, which contains numerous unknown and complex natural and inorganic compounds. These compounds tend to persist, initiating severe environmental problems, which affect human health. Conventionally, physicochemical treatment methods were adopted to remove such complex organic chemicals, but they suffer from critical limitations. Over time, photocatalysis, an advanced oxidation process, has gained its position for its efficient and fair performance against emerging organic pollutant decontamination. Typically, photocatalysis is a green technology to decompose organics under UV/visible light at ambient conditions. Semiconducting nanometal oxides have emerged as pioneering photocatalysts because of large active surface sites, flexible oxidation states, various morphologies, and easy preparation. The current review presents an overview of emerging organic pollutants and their effects, advanced oxidation processes, photocatalytic mechanism, types of photocatalysts, photocatalyst support materials, and methods for improving photodegradation efficiency on the degradation of complex emerging organic pollutants. In addition, the recent reports of metal-oxide-driven photocatalytic remediation of emerging organic pollutants are presented in brief. This review is anticipated to reach a broader scientific community to understand the first principles of photocatalysis and review the recent advancements in this field.
... Three OCPs namely, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD and δ-HCH, were the most abundant compounds detected in AF during the targeted analysis. DDT is omnipresent in the environment and is usually detected in >90% of samples including maternal matrices (Jayaraj et al., 2016;Peng et al., 2021;Sharma et al., 2014). Typically, DDE is the most abundant metabolite of DDT measured in maternal serum, placenta or cord blood (Barmpas et al., 2020;Shen et al., 2007;Zhao et al., 2007). ...
Background:
Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) may contribute to endocrine-related diseases and disorders later in life. Nevertheless, data on in utero exposure to these compounds are still scarce.
Objectives:
We investigated a wide range of known and novel nonpolar EDCs in full-term human amniotic fluid (AF), a representative matrix of direct fetal exposure.
Methods:
Gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) was used for the targeted and non-targeted analysis of chemicals present in nonpolar AF fractions with dioxin-like, (anti-)androgenic, and (anti-)estrogenic activity. The contribution of detected EDCs to the observed activity was determined based on their relative potencies. The multitude of features detected by non-targeted analysis was tentatively identified through spectra matching and data filtering, and further investigated using curated and freely available sources to predict endocrine activity. Prioritized suspects were purchased and their presence in AF was chemically and biologically confirmed with GC-HRMS and bioassay analysis.
Results:
Targeted analysis revealed 42 known EDCs in AF including dioxins and furans, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Only 30% of dioxin activity and <1% estrogenic and (anti-)androgenic activity was explained by the detected compounds. Non-targeted analysis revealed 14,110 features of which 3,243 matched with library spectra. Our data filtering strategy tentatively identified 121 compounds. Further data mining and in silico predictions revealed in total 69 suspected EDCs. We selected 14 chemicals for confirmation, of which 12 were biologically active and 9 were chemically confirmed in AF, including the plasticizer diphenyl isophthalate and industrial chemical p,p'-ditolylamine.
Conclusions:
This study reveals the presence of a wide variety of nonpolar EDCs in direct fetal environment and for the first time identifies novel EDCs in human AF. Further assessment of the source and extent of human fetal exposure to these compounds is warranted.
... In North America (Hinck et al., 2009;Schade and Heinzow, 1998) and Europe (Jaraczewska et al., 2006;Polder et al., 2008), OCP levels showed downward trends beginning in the 1970 s or 1980 s until a plateau was reached in the late 1990 s or early 2000 s; these trends are a result of an earlier introduction of regulations than in Asian countries. However, in China (Qiu et al., 2009), India (Sharma et al., 2014), and Egypt (Barakat et al., 2012), OCP levels increased continuously through the 1990 s until the mid-and late-2000 s. Considering the low cost and high efficiency of pesticides, these countries likely continued to use OCPs or introduced regulations much later than in the rest of the world. ...
This study evaluated the 12-year trends in serum levels of 28 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in 880 adults living in Seoul, Korea. The OCP levels decreased from 2006 to 2017, and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene was a predominant compound. OCP levels were higher in females than in males, and showed positive associations with BMI and age. The OCP concentrations had inverted U-shaped associations with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol. Concentrations of β-hexachlorocyclohexane were significantly higher in patients with hypertension than in participants that were normotensive. OCP levels showed positive associations with uric acid, creatinine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, but negative associations with free thyroxine. Participants with diabetes had significantly higher OCP levels than those without it. Principal component analysis suggested possible differences in disease manifestation depending on the composition of OCPs. These results suggest that OCPs might disturb renal transport and thyroid homeostasis. To our knowledge, the inverted U-shaped associations of heptachlor epoxide and endosulfan with cholesterol, the epidemiological associations of trans-nonachlor and endosulfan with thyroid hormones, and the association of p,p'-DDE with hyperuricemia have not been previously reported in general population. This is the first long-term study to show trends of 28 OCPs in serum and associations with various health indicators in Korea.
... Similarly, the review published by Bao et al [43] thoroughly discusses the levels of POPs in the water environment in China. A systematic review by Sharma et al [44] reported on the environmental and human exposure to POPs in India. Further, Yadav et al. [45] published another review of POPs in India. ...
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are harmful substances that pose unreasonable risk to human health and the environment. An international consensus was reached in 2001 to regulate the production, distribution, use and disposal of POPs under the Stockholm Convention. Sierra Leone signed and ratified the convention in 2003, and it has so far developed two national implementation plans (NIPs). The current study aims to review the state of knowledge on POPs, and to discuss their regulatory challenges in Sierra Leone. The literature search was conducted in Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, Elsevier/ Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, ResearchGate, Google, and Google Scholar databases to retrieve studies of POPs in Sierra Leone. Out of the papers retrieved, only eight met the inclusion criteria and thus were captured in the analysis. Four out of the 8 papers were published before the adoption of the Stockholm Convention, while the remaining four were published after the convention entered into force in 2004. The review results showed that POPs have been investigated in air, dumpsite environment, fish, plant foliage, human serum, and body lice. The studied POPs include organochlorine pesticides and their isomers, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans. Because the investigated POPs are largely undocumented in Sierra Leone it was impossible to show the concentration trend over the years. A range of challenges are hampering the management and regulation of POPs. They include: lack of decontamination and destruction facility for environmentally sound management of POPs stockpile and wastes, weak laboratory and inadequate human resources capacity for monitoring POPs, and low public awareness of the use and effects of POPs. Therefore, strengthening laboratory capacity and enhancing technical competence will improve monitoring of POPs. Improvement of public awareness and abatement options will mitigate the risk posed by POPs to humans and the environment.
... 4) Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). DDT, as a toxic pesticide, was included in the first batch of the 12 most hazardous and long-lasting organic compounds defined by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (Sharma et al., 2014;Asaoka et al., 2019). Iron-based PAO can achieve 87.9% DDT degradation, and free radicals (i.e., SO 4 $and OH $ ) mediate DDT degradation via stepwise hydrodechlorination, dehydrochlorination, ring-opening and final mineralization (Zhu et al., 2016b). ...
Due to the toxicity of bioaccumulative organohalides to human beings and ecosystems, a variety of biotic and abiotic remediation methods have been developed to remove organohalides from contaminated environments. Bioremediation employing organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB)-mediated microbial reductive dehalogenation (Bio-RD) represents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to attenuate highly-halogenated organohalides, specifically organohalides in soil, sediment and other anoxic environments. Nonetheless, many factors severely restrict the implications of OHRB-based bioremediation, including incomplete dehalogenation, low abundance of OHRB and consequent low dechlorination activity. Recently, the development of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) based on sulfate radicals (SO
·−4
) via the persulfate activation and oxidation (PAO) process has attracted tremendous research interest for the remediation of lowly-halogenated organohalides due to its following advantages, e.g., complete attenuation, high reactivity and no selectivity to organohalides. Therefore, integration of OHRB-mediated Bio-RD and subsequent PAO (Bio-RD-PAO) may provide a promising solution to the remediation of organohalides. In this review, we first provide an overview of current progress in Bio-RD and PAO and compare their limitations and advantages. We then critically discuss the integration of Bio-RD and PAO (Bio-RD-PAO) for complete attenuation of organohalides and its prospects for future remediation applications. Overall, Bio-RD-PAO opens up opportunities for complete attenuation and consequent effective in situ remediation of persistent organohalide pollution.
The small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) is a bottom-dwelling elasmobranch that represents the most discarded catch in terms of biomass in the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean). Potential impacts affecting its population and food safety implications have been assessed in three localities along the Catalan coast. Distinct indicators were integrated, such as biological data, ingested anthropogenic items (plastic and cellulose-like items), parasitological indices, trace metal concentrations and histopathology using liver as target organ. Although high ingestion rates of fibres and levels of some heavy metals, they do not seem negatively affected by any major pathology nor by the current levels of pollutants. Small-scale differences among localities and depths were found and discussed. No zoonotic parasites were found. Encysted larvae of Grillotia adenoplusia and, above all, the levels of Hg found in the musculature, that are well over the European Commission limits, rise concerns regarding human consumption of S. canicula in this region.
This is a first attempt to assess the levels of trace elements, PAHs, and TPHs in six elasmobranch species (Carcharhinus dussumieri, C. sorrah, Chiloscyllium arabicum, Gymnura poecilura, Sphyrna lewini, S. mokarran) from the Arabian Gulf. The chemical analysis showed that the concentrations of contaminants differed significantly between liver and muscle samples with both pelagic and benthic species and all families. For all species, contaminant concentrations were significantly higher in the liver than in the muscle. While muscle contaminant concentrations differed significantly with respect to species' lifestyles and families, those of liver showed no significant differences between pelagic and benthic species, neither between the four families nor between the six species. None of the analysed contaminants exceeded the internationally recognized standards in all studied species. These results enrich the knowledge on the bioaccumulation of contaminants in elasmobranchs and allow to assess the environmental status of the Arabian Gulf.
Organic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dye intermediates were used for diverse developmental purposes. The residues have been reported along the Indian coast besides their application sites. These persistent pollutants have been reported from sewage, agriculture, industrial, and in holistic Indian rivers. In addition to this, the pharmaceutical industry contributes to the increased levels of pharma-residues in the river water affecting the aquatic as well as terrestrial ecosystems. As rivers are the main sources of water for irrigation, industrial, and domestic purposes, it becomes essential to control and find remedial measures to maintain the quality of river water. The government of India has approved about 35-point regulations protecting the quality of the environment and public health. These existing legal tools deal with persistent organic pollutants and other hazardous chemicals at different stages. Thus, researchers are more focused towards finding a long-term sustainable solutions for pollution abatement and restoring river ecosystems through research and technological interventions.KeywordsRiver WaterOrganic pollutantGangesPharmaceuticals
The unregulated use of organochlorine pesticides has been linked to spread of breast cancer (BC), but the underlying biomolecular interactions are unknown. Using a case-control study, we compared OCP blood levels and protein signatures among BC patients. Five pesticides were found in significantly higher concentrations in breast cancer patients than in healthy controls: p',p' dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), p'p' dichloro diphenyl dichloroethane (DDD), endosulfan II, delta-hexachlorocyclohexane (dHCH), and heptachlor epoxide A (HTEA). According to the odds ratio analysis, these OCPs, which have been banned for decades, continue to raise the risk of cancer in Indian women. Proteomic analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) of plasma from estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients revealed 17 dysregulated proteins, but transthyretin (TTR) was three times higher than in healthy controls. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies revealed a competitive affinity between endosulfan II and the thyroxine-binding site of TTR, pointing towards the significance of the competition between thyroxin and endosulfan, resulting in endocrine disruption leading to breast cancer. Our study sheds light on the putative role of TTR in OCP-mediated BC, but more research is needed to decipher the underlying mechanisms that can be used to prevent the carcinogenic effects of these pesticides on women's health.
This study highlights the implementation of an electronic tongue composed of carbon screen-printed electrodes, which were used to discriminate and classify pesticides, such as Curathane, Numetrin, and Nativo in water. Therefore, to verify the capacity and performance of the sensory system, solutions of each of the pesticides at a concentration of 10 ppm were prepared in the laboratory and compared with distilled water. Furthermore, to evaluate the minimum detection limit of the electronic tongue, solutions were prepared at different concentrations: 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25 ppm, respectively. The analysis and classification of the different categories and concentrations were obtained from the use of pattern recognition and automatic learning methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (kNN), and naïve Bayes, during this process; the techniques accomplished more than 90% accuracy in pesticide concentrations. Finally, a 100% success rate in classifying the compound types was completely achieved.
This article makes a case for introducing actionable policy alternatives to address the human health hazards posed by agricultural use of pesticides in India. Pesticides, which include insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, and fungicides, are widely used in global agricultural practices to protect crops from pest attacks. While pesticides are considered important for their role in boosting agricultural productivity and meeting global food security targets, the article argues that pesticides have a detrimental impact on human health both via occupational and non-occupational routes of exposure. It discusses the human health effects of prolonged pesticide exposure both in the international and national contexts. The article shows that despite a lower aggregate and per capita pesticide consumption vis-à-vis other countries at the national level, the use of agricultural pesticides in India has led to a disproportionate burden of premature deaths due to chronic diseases. By categorising the registered Indian pesticides as per the World Health Organization’s toxicity criterion, the paper argues that unregulated sale of both registered and unregistered pesticides must be addressed to counter the broader health hazards associated with pesticides in general, and the looming burden of chronic diseases that India is faced with in particular.
A vast amount of contaminants and garbage are currently being disposed of in the environment as a result of human endeavour. More than one billion pounds of toxins are discharged into the air, water and soil throughout the planet. Pollution of the environment has become a major worry all over the world. Developmental activities, viz., urbanization, industrialization and transport are putting great pressure on our natural resources, which in turn release various toxic pollutants into the atmosphere and affect the well-being of the people living on this planet. These non-degradable environmental pollutants are highly toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic and have a negative effect on microbial diversity, fauna, flora and human beings; therefore the elimination of these harmful and recalcitrant pollutants from nature has a global concern. Pesticide production in India was started during the early 1950s and India ranks second in Asia in total pesticide production after China. It was found that there was declining growth (−1.29%) in pesticide production. In the 1990s, the average production of pesticides was around 61,000 tonnes which decreased to 54,000 tonnes in this decade. Pesticides can damage soil biomass and microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and earthworms. The use of microorganisms for pesticide remediation has piqued ecologists’ interest in recent decades, leading to the discovery of a diverse variety of bacteria and fungi that are directly or indirectly engaged in pesticide breakdown in both natural and laboratory settings. Biotechnology has been hailed as a promising and cutting-edge technique for in situ (on-site) activities that have resulted in the effective restoration of areas contaminated with harmful pesticides and other toxins. Bioremediation is a proven method of using living organisms (bacteria, fungus and plants) to break down or remove harmful and toxic chemicals from the environment in an efficient and cost-effective way. Microorganisms are crucial in the degradation of pesticides and other environmental poisons because they have the ability to produce a specific enzyme that can metabolize environmental pollutants and utilize them as food. Foreign pesticide resistance genes in genetically designed microbes may improve their capacity to digest persistent pollutants found in nature. Researchers have developed a few transgenic plants that express unique enzymes that can digest soil pesticides alongside genetically modified organisms and natural plant species. Over the last three decades, enzyme-based research has also gained significance in identifying pesticide-specific degrading enzymes across various living organisms (fungi, bacteria, plants and animals).KeywordsBioremediationMicroorganismsGMOTransgenic plantsContaminantsSoil healthEnvironment
The accumulation of potentially harmful substances in tea garden soils and tea leaves, especially persistent organic pollutants (POPs), is a special concern for tea consumers worldwide. However, their potential health and ecological risks in tea gardens have rarely been investigated. This study proposed measures to improve the degradation ability of POPs by the tea rhizosphere and to reduce the human health risks caused by POPs after tea consumption. In this study, the binding energy values of six types of POPs and the degraded protein were used to reflect the degradation ability and calculated using molecular dynamic simulations. The main root secretions (i.e., catechin, glucose, arginine, and oxalic acid) were selected and applied with a combination of tea fertilizer and trace element combination (i.e., urea, straw, and copper element), leading to an improved degradation ability (49.59 %) of POPs. To investigate the mechanisms of the factors that affect the degradation ability, molecular docking, tensor singular value decomposition methods, multivariate correlation analysis and 2D-QSAR model were used. The results showed that the solvation energy and solvent accessible surface area are the main forces, and the molecular weight, boiling point, and topological radius of the POPs were the key molecular features affecting their degradation ability. Based on the three key characteristics, a diet avoidance scheme (i.e., avoiding lysine, maslinic acid, ethanol, perfluorocaproic acid, and cholesterol with tea), which can reduce the binding ability of POP residues to aromatic hydrocarbon receptors by 506.13 %. This work will provide theoretical strategies to improve the quality and safety of tea production and reduce the potential risks of harmful substance residues in tea garden soils and tea leaves.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are organic chemicals that can persist in the environment for a longer period due to their non-biodegradability. The pervasive and bio-accumulative behavior of POPs makes them highly toxic to the environmental species including plants, animals, and humans. The present review specifies the POP along with their fate, persistence, occurrence, and risk analysis towards humans. The different biological POPs degradation methods, especially the microbial degradation using bacteria, fungi, algae, and actinomycetes, and their mechanisms were described. Moreover, the source, transport of POPs to the environmental sources, and the toxic nature of POPs were discussed in detail. Agricultural and industrial activities are distinguished as the primary source of these toxic compounds, which are delivered to air, soil, and water, affecting on the social and economic advancement of society at a worldwide scale. This review also demonstrated the microbial degradation of POPs and outlines the potential for an eco-accommodating and cost-effective approach for the biological remediation of POPs using microbes. The direction for future research in eliminating POPs from the environmental sources through various microbial processes was emphasized.
Toxic anthropogenic pollutants are often detected in environmental matrices of remote regions including the high Himalayan ecosystem. In this study, the concentration of elements, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in glacier ice meltwater and proglacial lake water samples collected at the Thanagang glacier, Bhutan Himalaya in September 2016. Naphthalene (23%) and acenaphthene (18.5%) were most dominant PAHs measured in the water samples. The present study suggests that combustion of liquid fossil fuel could be the possible origin of PAHs at the Thanagang glacier. PCBs were detected only in sites S2 and S5 with comparable concentrations indicating that PCBs are mainly released by the melting of the glacier. Among the OCPs analyzed, only trans-chlordane and Methoxychlor were detected. The enrichment factor (EF) analysis of the glacier ice sample showed highest value for Bi and the lowest for Zr. The Cs, Li, Se, W, Sn,
In, As, U, Cd, Ta, Pb, Tl and Zn exhibited moderate enrichment indicating greater contribution from sources other than the crustal material. The concentration profiles of these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals in collected samples are consistent with the previous studies in other Himalayan regions and the Tibetan plateau. Our study indicated that long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) is the primary process responsible for the transfer of anthropogenic pollutants to the high Himalayan glacier environment. The study also indicated that accelerated melting of glaciers owing to increasing global temperature may enhance the release of toxic chemicals into the downstream water bodies.
Exposure of newborns to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is a public health concern. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of POPs in human milk collected from lactating mothers in Lebanon and to investigate the sociodemographic, nutritional, and other lifestyle determinants. Fifty-four breast milk samples were collected as per World Health Organization guidelines. A survey was used to assess the anthropometric and demographic characteristics of participants. Dietary habits were evaluated based on a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were measured in milk samples with liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography. Among the screened POPs, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) was the only POP detected in breast milk samples and was found in only 17.9% of the samples, with a mean (SD) of 11.6 (5.0) μg/L and a range of 5.7 to 21.4 μg/L. Prepregnancy body mass index and age were positively associated with DDE contamination in breast milk. Women who consumed cereals at least two times per week had detectable DDE contamination in their breast milk. Consumption of potatoes and beans at least once per week was also associated with DDE contamination. Our study is the first to assess the presence of POPs in breast milk in Lebanon. The benefits of breastfeeding compensate for the low prevalence of DDE in the breast milk. Our findings highlight the high need to implement monitoring policies, good agricultural practices, and education programs for breastfeeding mothers.
Highlights:
Due to the growth of the world’s population, edible insects have been considered a valuable alternative food source for humans. Japan has a long-lasting traditional culture of eating wild insects, a practice that has recently evolved towards farming and selling reared edible insects. In this study, we investigated the contamination loads, profiles, and possible sources of organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs), plasticizers, and selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in insect foods available on the Japanese market. Medians of selected POPs in the dataset were up to 1.3 ng/g lw, while medians of PFRs and plasticizers were 12 and 486 ng/g ww, respectively. CB-153, p,p’-DDE, BDE-47, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)-phosphate (TCIPP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) were the dominant compounds in the analyzed samples, a pattern comparable to previous investigations on organic chemicals in edible insects. Our overall results suggest that POPs were likely accumulated by the insects during rearing or from the wild environment, while PFRs and plasticizers derived from post-harvesting industrial handling and seasoning. Differences in pollution patterns and the absence of correlations between PFR and plasticizer loads in insects and in food packaging suggest that the transfer of contaminants from food contact materials is not a main source of contamination.
This study reports the occurrences of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Ganga river basin covering 3 states, i.e. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar covering 72% of total river stretch consisting of 82 sampling points covered through 3 sampling campaigns. Samples were monitored for 16 major OCPs, including HCHs, Endosulfan group, Aldrin group, DDTs and Heptachlor group pesticides.
The results showed the ng l<sup>−1</sup> levels contamination of OCPs in all the stretches sampled during these campaigns. The results also revealed that different type of OCPs were dominating in different stretches in accordance to the land use practices and agricultural runoff generated from those stretches. HCHs were most frequently detected (detection rate = 75%) in mountainous stretch; Endosulfans were prominent in UP (detection rate = 75%) stretch while BR stretch Aldrin group pesticides were paramount (detection rate = 34%). Source apportionment of the OCP's revealed that in the upper reaches of the Ganges i.e. in the state of Uttarakhand, the glacial melt may be responsible for the presence of OCP's. In the lower reaches, intensive agriculture and industrial activities may be significantly contributing these pesticides. The sample from tributaries of Ganga river were found to contain higher number of pesticides as well as higher concentrations. The maximum total pesticide in an individual sample from these sampling campaigns was found in Son river sample (0.17 μg l<sup>−1</sup>, Location: Koilwar, Bhojpur, Bihar).
In 1997 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council decided that immediate international action should be initiated to protect human health and the environment through measures which will reduce and/or eliminate the emissions and discharges of an initial set of twelve “persistent organic pollutants” (POPs). The present project was initiated in mid-1998 at a time when the negotiations for an international legally binding instrument for implementing international action on certain persistent organic pollutants had just started and while the outcome of the negotiations was still purely conjectural. It was initiated by GEF after discussions with UNEP to address a broader set of issues and substances than those which finally were agreed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. This project therefore deals with “persistent toxic substances” or PTS and is deliberately looking at a wider group of chemicals than the twelve “POPs”
under the Stockholm Convention.
The Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances (RBA PTS) Project was designed to gather data and assess the sources, environmental concentrations, the transboundary movement and effects of a selected number of PTS. The objective of the project is to provide a measure of the threats and damage to the environment and human health posed by these substances. It is intended that the results of the project will guide the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other funding agencies toward priorities for future
action to mitigate the effects of these PTS.
With around three quarters of the world’s capture fisheries fully or overexploited, aquaculture is seen as the main source for future growth of fish production. Given this finite state of affairs, this paper examines the role of “feed” fisheries in fish and animal farming and considers whether the direct human consumption of these resources might be preferable on environmental, food security and livelihood grounds. This synthesis draws on four regional analyses and a number of country case studies.
There are marked differences among regions regarding the sourcing and use of fish-based protein for feeds. In South America and Europe high-performance compounded feeds derived from target feed stocks are utilized, although Asian demand for these resources is increasingly causing South American and European aquaculture producers to substitute fishmeal with plant-based alternatives. Asian aquaculture – apart from the intensive culture of marine shrimp – still largely depends upon “trash fish” and farm-made diets due to their availability and low cost, characteristics which are considered by farmers to outweigh their poor growth and environmental performance. With the exception of Egyptian mariculture, most of Africa’s culture of herbivorous/omnivorous species uses locally made fishmeal.
In some key feed fisheries and particularly in South America, there is considerable scope to increase the proportion of feedfish used for human consumption to address food security concerns. However, this switch depends upon the development of low-cost, easily conserved products that are accessible by the poor in inland rural areas. In Asia, there is some scope for greater use of low-value fish for human consumption, but again affordability and required product preservation are limitations.
In terms of food security and livelihood maintenance, such a switch would be particularly beneficial to South American populations. However, the situation in Asia is less clear cut, as cheap and abundant trash fish allow small-scale aquaculture development and the accompanying livelihood opportunities. In summary, there is no single “answer” as to whether more “feedfish” should be used for human consumption. Solutions to this issue require a regional approach that examines all the consequences – economic, social and environmental – to ensure that inappropriate policy changes are not rushed through on the basis of simplistic assertions.
Abstract. This study presents the occurrence of pesticides in a well-field located in Yamuna flood plain of
Delhi region. Ground water sampling campaigns were carried out during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon
periods covering 21 borewells and 5 Ranney wells. Major 17 organochlorine pesticides (OCP’s) along with
other water quality parameters were monitored during this period. Pesticide concentrations were determined
using GC-ECD, while GC-MS was used for confirmatory purposes. OCP’s groups like P
HCH,PDDT, endosulfan and aldrin were observed in this well-field. Concentration of OCPs from Ranney well exceeded the limit (1 μg l−1) prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in pre-monsoon season, though OCP levels in borewells were within BIS limits. However, these levels were very close to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Union (EU) limit of for pesticides (0.5 μg l−1) in many samples. Borewell produced better quality water compared to the water from Ranney wells. Although, the level of OCP’s was slightly lower than prescribed limit of national regulatory agency but such low doses may cause long-term damage to human populations if such water is consumed for longer durations. At low doses OCP’s acts as endocrine disrupting agent and cause metabolic disorders in local population.
Abstract. This study reports the occurrences of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Ganga river basin covering 3 states, i.e. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar covering 72% of total river stretch consisting of 82 sampling points covered through 3 sampling campaigns. Samples were monitored for 16 major OCPs, including HCHs, Endosulfan group, Aldrin group, DDTs and Heptachlor group pesticides.
The results showed the ng l−1 levels contamination of OCPs in all the stretches sampled during these campaigns. The results also revealed that different type of OCPs were dominating in different stretches in accordance to the land use practices and agricultural runoff generated from those stretches. HCHs were most frequently detected (detection rate = 75%) in mountainous stretch; Endosulfans were prominent in UP (detection rate = 75%) stretch while BR stretch Aldrin group pesticides were paramount (detection rate = 34%). Source apportionment of the OCP's revealed that in the upper reaches of the Ganges i.e. in the state of Uttarakhand, the glacial melt may be responsible for the presence of OCP's. In the lower reaches, intensive agriculture and industrial activities may be significantly contributing these pesticides. The sample from tributaries of Ganga river were found to contain higher number of pesticides as well as higher concentrations. The maximum total pesticide in an individual sample from these sampling campaigns was found in Son river sample (0.17 μg l−1, Location: Koilwar, Bhojpur, Bihar).
Organochlorine pesticides, the potential chemical pollutants, are extensively used for agriculture and vector control purposes due to their low cost and high effectiveness. DDT and HCH residues were examined in different surface and groundwater resources of district Dibrugarh and Nagaon of Assam state, Northeast India. The mean HCH concentrations in surface water samples were 4403 ng/L and 4911 ng/L, while 5168 ng/L and 5574 ng/L in groundwater samples from Dibrugarh and Nagaon districts respectively. Total DDT levels were 5402 ng/L and 6121 ng/L in surface water while 6549 ng/L and 6904 ng/L in groundwater from Dibrugarh and Nagaon respectively. DDT levels in groundwater were found to be highest among the levels reported so far. The dominant OCPs were found to be β-HCH among HCHs and p,p′-DDT among DDTs. The ratios of DDT/(DDE+DDD) and α-HCH/γ-HCH revealed that residue levels in water were originated from long past to recent mixed source of technical HCH and lindane for HCHs and mainly technical DDT for DDTs. About 93% samples for DDT and 90% samples for HCH exceeded the WHO recommended drinking water limits which is a matter of great concern and posing a serious threat to aquatic ecosystem and human health. Spatial distribution was also investigated to identify the areas with higher pesticide loadings in groundwater. Present data on contamination profile of OCPs in this survey can be used as reference levels for future POPs monitoring programme.
An assessment on the concentration of surfactants and pesticides of chlorinated hydrocarbon group in surface and groundwater, is made from Greater Kolkata located in the Western Ganga Delta, one of the largest urban agglomerate in Asia. Concentration of both anionic synthetic detergents and organochlorine pesticide residues analysed from 54 and 19 sampling stations covering groundwater and surface water sources respectively, are generally found to be within the tolerance limit for human consumption. The concentration of synthetic detergent ranges from 0.084 to 0.425mg/l. Residues of organochlorine pesticides are analysed from different sources like tanks, lakes, rivers and groundwater. Lindane (0.01-0.43µg/l) and DDT (0.03-0.65 µg/l) are the most widely detected pesticide residues. Howerer, the two have not exceeded the limits for drinking anywhere. High value of aldrin and dieldrin (0.9µg/l) is obtained in the river Hugli at Barakpur-Seoraphuli, 20 km north of Kolkata. Likewise high value of Heptachloreis detected in a canal water sample at Palta (0.05 µg/l), a suburban area. Seasonally, the pesticide concentration in surface water is maximum during winter due to their higher application and minimum during monsoon. In groundwater, however, this relationship is reverse due to higher infiltration of surface water during monsoon.
Forty-five soil samples of surface (0-15 cm) and subsurface (15-30 cm) soils from agricultural sites of Delhi, Haryana, Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and around the hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) manufacturing plant of IPL (Indian Pesticide Limited) and nine samples of different commercial brands of drinking water from markets in Delhi were analysed for the presence of residues of HCH isomers. Thirty-nine of the 45 soil samples contained residues of β-HCH (2.5 μg/kg to 463 mg/kg of soil) and the remaining showed the presence of γ-HCH (0.08 μg/kg to 43.00 mg/kg). Residues of α-HCH (0.04 μg/kg to 98.00 mg/kg of soil) and δ-HCH (0.07 μg/kg to 458.00 mg/kg of soil) were detected less frequently. All the nine samples of drinking water were found to contain residues of γ-HCH and β-HCH, whereas only 5 and 4 samples contained α- and δ-HCH respectively. Bisleri, Paras and VIP brands showed 99, 240 and 141 fold higher levels of HCH respectively when compared the EEC norms. The contamination of mineral water could be due to heavy contamination of groundwater, which is used for making mineral water.
In this study blood samples are taken from two groups of people, one that has direct exposure to pesticides (agriculturists & public health workers) the second group, which has indirect exposure to pesticides through food chain. The objective of our investigation is to analyze the blood of the patients with minimum health complaints and skin diseases for the residue of the banned organochlorine pesticides DDE and BHC using Gas Chromatography. High concentrations of both BHC&DDE were observed in the serum samples of the people who had direct exposure to the pesticides, namely agriculturalists and public health workers with few exceptions. The pesticide residue concentration in serum ranges from 0.006 to 0.130 ppm for BHC and 0.002 to 0.033 ppm for DDE. Significance of this study reveals that the presence of these banned pesticides in human serum.
Concentrations of butyltin compounds (mono-, di-, and tri-butyltin) were determined in dolphin (Platanista gangetica), fish, invertebrates and sediment collected from the River Ganges, India, in order to understand the contamination levels, sources, and potential for biomagnification in freshwater food chains. Total butyltin concentration in dolphin tissues was up to 2000 ng g−1 wet wt, which was about 5–10 times higher than in their diet. The concentrations in fish and benthic invertebrates, including polychaetes, were 3–10 times greater than in sediment. The biomagnification factor for butyltins in river dolphin from its food was in the range 0.2–7.5. Butyltin concentrations in Ganges river organisms were higher than those reported for several persistent organochlorine compounds. Discharge of untreated domestic sewage was one of the major sources of butyltin residues in Ganges river biota. High concentrations of butyltin compounds in freshwater food chains suggest the need to assess their toxic effects in aquatic organisms and to regulate their use. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Concern over agricultural diffuse pollution sources in integrated water quality management has been growing recently. Such sources are likely to be even more critical in developing countries, including India, where agriculture and rural habitats are still dominant, unlike the G7 or other affluent industrialised nations. A number of special features of the Indian scene need to be considered. These include: (i) extremely varying rainfall and stream-flow patterns; (ii) still largely traditional agricultural practices with average application of fertilizers and pesticides and significant areas under dry farming or only marginal irrigation; (iii) a very large cattle population, with agriculture almost always linked with animal husbandry; (iv) a culture of living close to the river (if not in the river) with dominating instream uses of bathing, washing, cattle wading, waste disposal, etc. and large-scale floodplain farming; and (v) scant respect for rules, regulations and laws alongside an extremely weak law-enforcement machinery.
The paper shows that in the non-monsoon (non-flood) periods, which may account for all but 2 months of a year, agricultural diffuse pollution sources seem to have no impact on stream water quality. During these periods flows are low to minimal and pollution is dominated by the in-stream uses, sullage waters of rural communities and point discharges from urban/industrial sources, if any. Pollution due to agricultural return waters, either as wash-off or as seepage, appears to be rare during the 8-10 fair weather months. However, surface wash-off of pollutants from agricultural sources becomes the dominant factor during flood flows, and seepage/drainage from agricultural fields/soils continues to pollute streams for a month or two after the monsoons are over.
Application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides (or any other agricultural chemicals) in India is still low compared to developed countries, and while eutrophication due to high levels of washed-off nutrients is observed in rural ponds and other stagnant bodies of water receiving agricultural drainage, and excessive pesticide residuals are often reported for vegetables, fodder, milk, etc., monitoring of streams and rivers does not show any significant pollution due to nutrients or pesticides from agricultural diffuse pollution during fair weather months. High nitrate concentrations have been reported in groundwater and in many areas, such as Punjab and Haryana, these can often be linked directly to diffuse agricultural sources. The major problem of agricultural diffuse pollution appears to be the heavy silt loads, along with large quantities of dissolved salts, nutrients, organics and even heavy metals and bacterial contaminants washed off during floods. The silt tends to clog up the flow channel to further encourage seasonal floodplain agriculture. This results in a vicious circle, which degrades the channel, increases flood-damage and is undesirable from ecological and sustainability points of view. High concentrations of salts and nutrients encourage growth of weeds and macrophytes after the floods have passed. The presence of organics, heavy metals and bacterial contamination renders the streamwater unfit for in-stream use or abstraction.
With the introduction of intensive agriculture and adoption of modern farming techniques involving the application of much irrigation water and agricultural chemicals, the problems caused by diffuse agricultural pollution are bound to grow. Routine pollution control methods of discharge permits (or consent letters), EIAs or environmental audits, and normal enforcement measures by regulatory agencies are not likely to work for control of such pollution. Using the example of a small river in central India, Paisuni (Mandakini), the paper brings out the nature of the problems, and suggests a possible management approach.
Kolleru Lake is the largest natural fresh water body of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is situated between the latitude 160321 and 160471 N and longitudes 810051 and 810211 E. The area of drainage basin of the lake is 4763 Sq.Kms. Water samples were collected from lake in three seasons in a year over a period of three years and analyzed for a-BHC, g-BHC, malathion, chlrophyrifos, isodrin, endosulfan, dieldrin, and p, p1-DDT using gas chromatograph and also physicochemical parameters to assess the quality of lake water.
The 1998 Bauma International Trade Fair at the New Munich Trade Fair Center in Germany will feature some of the latest and most innovative construction equipment in the market today. Many companies preview their equipment at the fair, some finalizing their prototypes only weeks before the event takes place. To facilitate easy comprehension, the products in the halls have been divided into several categories, including, building equipment and tools, construction site and installations, formwork, scaffolding and accessories, plant and machinery for processing concrete-reinforcing steel, drive systems, fluid engineering equipment, and plant and machinery for the production of cement, lime, and gypsum-based building components.
Organochlorine chemicals, including chlorinated pesticides and polychlorobiphenyls, are found at appreciable concentrations in the polar regions, presumably as a result of long-range atmospheric transport. Concentration data in arctic and antarctic air, show, atmospheric deposition, fish and seals, are compiled and interpreted to determine latitudinal and temporal trends. It is suggested that the often surprisingly high concentrations are explained in part by the temperature-dependent partitioning of these low volatility compounds. A process of global fractionation may be occurring in which organic compounds become latitudinally fractionated, "condensing' at different ambient temperatures dependent on their volatility. -from Authors
A field experiment was conducted from 1999 to 2002 to compare and evaluate the effects of nutrient and water regimes on paddy soil quality by investigating soil chemical and microbiological parameters. Four nutrient regimes, a control, chemical fertilizers only (CF), chemical fertilizers with swine manure (SM), and chemical fertilizers with wheat straw (WS), and two soil moisture regimes, continuous waterlogging (CWL) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD), were investigated. With SM and WS total organic carbon and total nitrogen in the paddy soil were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those with CF. A similar effect for organic amendments was observed in the soil light fraction organic C (LFOC), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and water-soluble organic C (WSOC). CWL, in particular when swine manure was incorporated into the paddy soil, markedly decreased soil redox potential (Eh) and increased total active reducing substances (ARS). Meanwhile, as compared to CF, SM and WS significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and mineralizable carbon, with differences in AWD being higher than CWL. In addition, SM and WS treatments significantly (P < 0.05) improved rice above-ground biomass and grain yield, with AWD being greater than CWL. Thus, for ecologically sustainable agricultural management of paddy soils, long-term waterlogging should be avoided when organic manure was incorporated into paddy soil.
This paper reports on the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in edible biota from the coastal area of Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania. Samples were collected from the Msimbazi and Kizinga rivers and from the coastal marine environment receiving waters from these rivers. The samples were analysed for various organochlorine pesticide residues using GC-ECD and the results confirmed with GC-MS. Dieldrin, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDT and γ-HCH were the only organochlorines detected at concentrations above the method detection limits (MDL). The samples showed significant differences in levels of residues depending on location, mode of feeding and age/size of analysed biota. p,p'-DDT to total DDT ratios in biota indicated recent contamination of DDT. Biota from mangrove areas showed highest level of residues followed by those from fresh water while lowest concentrations were detected in biota from marine coastal water. In spite of concerns on the adverse effects to humans posed by pesticide residues in sediments reported from previous studies, edible biota from the examined water bodies are safe for human consumption.
Residues of several organochlorine insecticides were monitored in the ground water from a rural area near Farrukhabad in the vicinity of the Ganga River in northern India for one year (1991-1992). Almost all the samples were found to be contaminated with residues of Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). Residues of Aldrin, endosulfan and heptachlor were also detected in a large number of samples. The concentrations of aldrin residues greatly exceeded the WHO guideline value for drinking water, concentrations of heptachlor and DDT residues also occasionally exceeded the specified limits. Migration of pollutants through ground water recharge with polluted Ganga River water and monsoon rains carrying undergraded residues downwards from the soil surface are throught to be important sources of insecticide contamination of ground water in the region.
Multiple residues of organochlorine insecticides were monitored in the agricultural fields near Farrukhabad in the vicinity of the River Ganga in northern India for one year (1991-1992). Almost all soil samples were found to be contaminated with residues of hexachlorocylohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). Residues of aldrin and endosulfan were also detected in a large number of samples. Heptachlor residues were scarcely detected. Alpha-HCH, pp'-DDT and alpha-endosulfan were found to dominate over the other isomers/metabolites of HCH, DDT and endosulfan, respectively. The average concentration of dieldrin was more than that of aldrin. The concentrations of residues progressively increased up to a depth of 1 m.
For India, sustainable strategy means one that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. This calls for rapid economic growth to deal with poverty and human development. However, the relatively meagre energy resources of the country pose a huge challenge. At the same time concern for climate change has raised the bar on the use of the one energy resource that India has in some abundance, namely coal. India's strategy for sustainable development has to explore all options of reducing energy needs, enhancing efficiency of use of conventional energy resources and develop new and renewable sources. The paper identifies various technical options, their potential roles and alternative policy measures to realize them in a cost effective manner. Even for the same objectives different policy instruments are available and how one chooses a particular instrument is often critical for the success. Self-implementing incentive compatible policy that does not create vested interests that would get entrenched should be preferred.
Organochlorine pesticide residues concentrations in water samples collected from rural areas of northern and north eastern districts of India were studied. In the study, pesticide residues were detected in both the surface and ground water although the concentrations detected were below the WHO prescribed limit. Alpha HCH, total HCH and aldrin were detected in all the samples. The total DDT was detected in 90.9% ground water and 82% surface water samples. The average beta HCH and pp’ DDT concentrations were found to be higher as compared to their other metabolites. Ground water had alpha HCH, beta HCH, gamma HCH, op'DDT, pp”; DDT, pp'DDE pp’ DDD, endosulfan and aldrin higher by 4.6% , 14.06%, 2.4%, 24.2%, 15.6%, 101.02%, 174%, 57.85% and 24.73% as compared to surface water. The correlation between pesticide residues and nitrate concentration was non significant and could be due to their low concentration.
ABSTRACTSoil samples with three fertilization treatments (no fertilizer, corn straw and farm manure) collected from a Lou soil (Eum-orthic Anthrosol classfied using Chinese Soil Taxonomy) in northwestern China were analysed for residual levels and their characteristics of organochlorine pesticides (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, HCB, o, p′-DDT, p, p′-DDT, o, p′-DDE, p, p′-DDE, p, p′-DDD, α-endosulfan, dieldrin and endrin). Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were detected in all soil samples except δ-HCH and their total concentrations ranged from 159.31 ± 9.00 to 179.77 ± 2.58 ng g−1 with an order of HCHs > DDTs > (dieldrin + endrin) > HCB > α-endosulfan. Among all the compounds, γ-HCH had the highest concentration followed by p, p′-DDE. The residual levels of HCH isomers and DDT as well as their metabolites in soil with different fertilization treatments were in the order of γ-HCH > β-HCH ≈ α-HCH > δ-HCH and p, p′-DDE > p, p′-DDT > o, p′-DDT > p, p′-DDD ≈ o, p′-DDE, respectively. DDE/DDT ratios ranged from 1.59 ± 0.13 to 3.35 ± 0.16 and endrin/dieldrin ratios from 1.40 ± 0.06 to 9.20 ± 4.05, both indicating no new occurrence of these pesticides in these soils, while α-HCH/γ-HCH ratios of 0.04 indicated a new input of lindane (almost pure γ-HCH) in the past several years. The farm manure treatments showed lower DDT residues than samples without fertilizer. Also addition of corn straw and farm manure increased soil organic matter content and decreased the soil pH which could retard the degradation of DDT in the soil.
Sediment samples were collected from Xiamen Harbour, the People's Republic of China, and Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, and were analysed for non-aromatic hydrocarbons (NAHs), long-chain linear alkylbenzenes (LABs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (HCHs, DDTs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In Xiamen Harbour, concentrations varied from 3.1–32.9 μg g−1 for NAH, 2.9–61 μg g−1 for PAHs, 0.14–1.12 ng g−1 for HCHs, 4.45–311 ng g−1 for DDTs and 0.05–7.24 ng g−1 for PCBs. In Victoria Harbour, the concentration ranges of those pollutants were 60–646 μg g−1, 1.2–14.0 μg g−1, undetectable to 2.3 ng g−1, 1.38–30.3 ng g−1 and 3.2–16.0 ng g−1, respectively. The distribution patterns of various organic pollutants in the sediments are discussed. The NAH levels present in Victoria Harbour indicated that there was significant petroleum contamination in the harbour. Xiamen Harbour was slightly more contaminated by DDTs. LABs could be used as synthetic detergent tracers. From the data available, it is concluded that Victoria Harbour is more polluted than Xiamen Harbour. The structure of the benthic community provides further evidence to support this claim.
Samples of water, sediments , Shrimps (Caridina sp.,Litopenaeus ,Macrobrachium, Neocaridina ) and fish Species( Etroplus suratensis, Murrels (Channa marulius) ,silver carp and Catfishes (Heteropneustes fossilis) ) were analysed for organochlorine (OCP's) residues in six streams of Cauvery river, near Mandya district. The important physico-chemical parameters were also analysed. Significant spatial variation was observed in water level, transparency, turbidity, depth, dissolved oxygen, colour, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate, nitrite and total hydrocarbon among the physiochemical parameters of the study stations. All the parameters contained at least one of the pesticide residues analysed ( �- HCH, �- HCH, �- HCH, �- HCH, p,p'DDT, p,p'DDE, p,p'DDD and Endosulphan) . Maximum Concentration of p,p'DDE Pesticides residue ( 0.96 µg L �1 ) in water was found in Station 2 . Maximum Concentration of �- HCH Pesticides residue (82.22, 80.45and 79.23 µg kg �1 ) in sediments was found in Station 1,3 and 5. However the concentration of all the pesticides residues was maximum in sediments except station 6 which is away from all pollution sources. Maximum Concentration of �- HCH pesticides residue (74.34 µg L �1 ) in shrimp Caridina sp. Prevailed. And in fish species the maximum concentration of pesticide residue (�- HCH54.23 and �- HCH 44.68 µg kg �1 ) was found in fish Etroplus suratensis.
Sequential extraction was used to study the operationally determined chemical forms of four heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni and Co) and their spatial distribution in the sediments of the Pearl River Estuary. It was found that the residual fraction was the most important phase for the four metals in these sediments. Among non-residual fractions, Zn, Ni and Co were mainly associated with the Fe-Mn oxide fraction while Cu was associated with the organic fraction. The Zn bound to the Fe-Mn oxide fraction had significant relationships with reducible Mn and reducible Fe concentrations (Fe-Mn oxides), suggesting that Fe-Mn oxides may be the main carriers of Zn from the fluvial environment to the marine body. There was a significant relationship between Cu bound to the organic fraction and sediment organic contents. The Zn bound to the Fe-Mn oxide fraction and Cu bound to the organic fraction showed general distinctive decrease from the west side to the east side of the estuary, and from upstream in the north to the sea in the south. This was in the same trend with the total Zn and Cu concentrations in these sediments. The results may reflect the anthropogenic inputs of heavy metals to the top sediments from recent rapid industrial development and urbanisation in the surrounding area.
The residue levels of presistent chlorinated pesticides such as HCH (hexachlorocyclo-hexane) isomers and DDT (dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane) compounds were quantified in water samples collected from the River Kaveri and its distributor River Coleroon in Tamil Nadu, South India. HCH showed higher levels in River Kaveri during premonsoon (July to September) and monsoon (October to December) months, reflecting the HCH usage during that season for paddy crops. But in the case of DDT no clear trend in residue level was observed. the α-HCH was detected as the dominant isomer in all the three sampling sites. Among DDT compounds, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE showed higher percentage of the total. International comparison of residue levels revealed that the present values are comparable to the waters from Asian and South East Asian nations, but lower than some samples from other parts of India. the value of DDT is well below the EEC's maximum acceptable concentration for surface waters and lower than the recommended limit of 2000ng 1 in USA water for protection of aquatic life (Water Quality Criteria, 1972).
Human breast milk samples collected from four locations in Tamil Nadu state, South India, were analyzed for understanding the levels of persistent organochlorines such as 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH (BHC)) isomers, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). On the basis of the overall concentrations of these compounds, ΣHCH (sum of α, β, γ, and δ isomers) levels were higher than the other two. Unlike that of developed countries, the concentration of HCH isomers in Indian breast milk was more in vegetarians than nonvegetarians. Interestingly, high levels of HCH isomers indicated a shift toward their preferential accumulation in the body relative to DDT compounds, which had higher levels than HCH isomers in earlier years. In view of the increase usage of technical HCH for agriculture and vector control, the body burden of HCH isomers may still go up in Indians. The authors also detected PCBs in Indian breast milk, but at low levels.
An increasing number of pesticide compounds are being detected in groundwater supplies worldwide. There has, nevertheless, been little research into the mechanisms by which such pollution occurs and the routes via which pesticides move from the land surface into aquifers. In view of the potential time-lag in the response of groundwater systems to pollution inputs, such knowledge is essential if the current situation is to be appraised adequately and if any necessary controls on pesticide use are to be introduced.
From basic data on the physicochemical properties of pesticide compounds and on groundwater flow and pollutant transport in the principal British aquifers, some useful observations can be made about the relative significance of different mechanisms of potential groundwater pollution. These mechanisms and their implications for field research on pesticide pollution of groundwater are discussed. This problem is compared and contrasted to that of nitrate pollution from agricultural land-use practices.
Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soils and associated biota around “Los Padres” pond watershed were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC–ECD). Pesticides were analyzed in different horizons (upper 0–15, middle 15–30, lower 45–55 cm) of natural and horticultural soils, developed in highlands and lowlands. Physical and chemical characteristics (organic matter content, pH, moisture, texture, etc.) were determined. Higher concentrations of total OCPs were found in highlands, because of the high content of clay material and organic matter. Lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, DDT and metabolites were found in soils. Depending on physical and chemical characteristics of pesticides and soils, different behaviours were found. Lindane could leach down to lower horizons, rich in clays, while hydrophobic pesticides remain in the upper horizons, retained by organic matter. Vegetables (carrots and potatoes) accumulated lindane with important contributions of DDTs and heptachlor. OCPs were taken up, accumulated and metabolized efficiently by terrestrial invertebrates (earthworms and beetles). The results obtained testify the pollution by OCPs in “Los Padres” pond watershed.
In a world increasingly affected by global environmental changes, Low Income countries will play an ever more central role in determining the future health of the biosphere. While global use of the biosphere's capacity has increased over the past 45 years, per capita demand for biocapacity, as measured by the Ecological Footprint, has only increased in high-income countries and has remained constant or fallen in middle- and low-income nations. Consumption has increased faster than population in high-income nations, while population growth has been the dominant factor in middle- and low- income countries. Although listed in the middle-income group of countries, China showed atypical trends in the past 45 years, with a rapid increase in per capita Ecological Footprint that outstrip its gains in income. Typical trends were instead noticed for India, whose per person Ecological Footprint has fallen slightly.The results of this paper show that decisions made in China and India will be of fundamental importance for future global sustainability.
Blood samples were collected during August 1992 and August 2002 from various hospitals of Haryana state and analyzed for the presence of HCH and DDT residues and the change in concentration of pesticide residues was calculated in terms of % reduction. The study revealed that the mean residue levels of total HCH in human blood samples have declined by 87.6% while those of total DDT have decreased by 98.9% during a gap of 10 years. The obtained results reveal that during 1992 p,p'-DDT was the major component with the mean value of 6.125 mg/L followed by p,p'-DDE, γ-HCH, α-HCH and β-HCH while in 2002, β-HCH and p,p'-DDE were comparable with mean value of 0.053 and 0.052 mg/L, respectively followed by p,p'-DDT, α-HCH and p,p'-DDD.
The occurrence and distribution of selected pesticides and their metabolites were investigated through the collection of 837 water-quality samples from 303 wells across the Midwest. Results of this study showed that five of the six most frequently detected compounds were pesticide metabolites. Thus, it was common for a metabolite to be found more frequently in groundwater than its parent compound. The metabolite alachlor ethanesulfonic acid (alachlor-ESA; 2-[(2,6-diethylphenyl)(methoxymethyl)amino]-2-oxoethanesulfonic acid) was detected almost 10 times as frequently and at much higher concentrations than its parent compound alachlor (2-chloro-2‘,6‘-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide). The median detectable atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6- isopropylamino-s-triazine) concentration was almost half that of atrazine residue (atrazine plus the two atrazine metabolites analyzed). Cyanazine amide [2-chloro-4-(1-carbamoyl-1-methylethylamino)-6-ethylamino-s-triazine] was detected almost twice as frequently as cyanazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-methylpropionitrileamino-s-triazine). Results show that information on pesticide metabolites is necessary to understand the environmental fate of pesticides. Consequently, if pesticide metabolites are not quantified, the effects of chemical use on groundwater quality would be substantially underestimated. Thus, continued research is needed to identify major degradation pathways for all pesticides and to develop analytical methods to determine their concentrations in water and other environmental media.
A 60-day experiment was carried out to delineate stress mitigating and immunomodulatory role of dietary pyridoxine (PN) in Labeo rohita fingerlings exposed to endosulfan. Two hundred and seventy fingerlings were randomly distributed into six treatments in triplicates. Five iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous purified diets were prepared with graded levels of pyridoxine. Six treatment groups were T0 (10 mg PN+without endosulfan), T1 (0 mg PN+endosulfan), T2 (10 mg PN+endosulfan), T3 (50 mg PN+endosulfan), T4 (100 mg PN+endosulfan) and T5 (200 mg PN+endosulfan). The role of pyridoxine on stress mitigation and immunomodulation was assessed by biochemical and haemato-immunological parameters like aspartate aminotransaminase, alanine aminotransaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly (P<0.05) lower while acetylcholinesterase was significantly (P<0.05) higher in pyridoxine-fed groups. Erythrocytes count, haemoglobin content and total serum protein, albumin, globulin, nitroblue tetrazolium and lysozyme activity were significantly (P<0.05) higher while cortisol and blood glucose were decreased significantly (P<0.05) in pyridoxine-fed groups. Percentage survival after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila was highest in T0 group. The results obtained in present study indicate that dietary pyridoxine supplementation at 100 mg PN kg−1 diet reduces the endosulfan-induced stress and triggers immune response in L. rohita fingerlings.