Article

Ground water contamination by organochlorine insecticide residues in a rural area in the Indo-Gangetic plain

April 1995
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 35(2):155-64

April 1995
35(2):155-64

DOI:10.1007/BF00633712

Source
PubMed

Authors:

Vt Gajbhiye

Indian Agricultural Research Institute

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.

Pesticides in the hydrogeo-environment: a review of contaminant prevalence, source and mobilisation in India

Article

Full-text available

May 2023
ENVIRON GEOCHEM HLTH

Chemical pesticides in the hydrogeological system are a global concern as they pose a severe threat to humans and other organisms. In agriculture, around 4.12 million tonnes of pesticides were used globally in 2018, which is 50% more than in the 1990s. Various pesticides detected in the hydrogeological system of India since the 1990s have been documented and reviewed to understand the prevalence, source, history and degradation pathways. This review contributes to a better understanding of existing pesticide pollution and the state of hydrogeological resource deterioration. Small to excess levels of pesticide residues were detected in groundwater, surface water, soil, and sediments. Pesticides that were most commonly and predominantly found in the hydrogeological system were HCHs, DDTs, endosulfan, heptachlor, drins (aldrin, dieldrin, endrin), chlordane etc. β and γ-HCH isomers among HCHs, whereas p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE among the DDTs were detected most prevalently. In many regions, pesticide residue levels in water have exceeded the maximum residue limits of WHO and BIS, while those in soils and sediments have exceeded the threshold effect level and probable effect level. Higher pesticide residues were detected in the water resources of rural agricultural areas compared to peri-urban or urban areas. A positive correlation of pesticide residues between water resources and soil has been observed in some regions, suggesting a similar contamination source. Diagnostic ratios of pesticides reveal their source, history and degradation pathways. Diagnostic ratios observed in various studies conducted in India suggest historical as well as recent use of banned pesticides. Strengthening current policies and regulations, monitoring pesticide use, changes in pesticide application practices, awareness among farmers, and the use of prominent removal techniques are necessary to tackle pesticide contamination in India.

Risk assessment of persistent pesticide pollution: Development of an indicator integrating site-specific characteristics

Article

Nov 2022
SCI TOTAL ENVIRON

Detection of high pesticide concentrations in sediments and water often leads to prioritizing a site as being ‘at risk’. However, the risk does not depend on pesticide concentration alone, but on other site-specific characteristics also. We developed an indicator that identifies the ‘Level of Concern’ by integrating five such characteristics: (i) pesticide concentrations in surface and groundwater causing risks to ecological health (ii) impacts on human health, (iii) water scarcity, (iv) agricultural production, and (v) biodiversity richness. We applied this framework in an agricultural region of the Lower Ganges Basin in West Bengal, India. We measured concentrations of selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface and groundwater within an 8 km² area in 2019. Of 20 banned and restricted OCPs, 11 were detected as causing high risk to ecological health and 10 at concentrations above the Accepted Carcinogenic Risk Limit (ACRL) for humans. In the pre-monsoon, the mean concentrations of ΣOCPs in groundwater and surface water were 126.9 ng/L and 104 ng/L, in the monsoon they were 144.7 ng/L and 138 ng/L, and in the post-monsoon 122.1 ng/L and 147 ng/L respectively. In groundwater, no significant seasonal difference was observed in most pesticides. In the surface water, 7 pesticides were significantly higher in the monsoon and post-monsoon, which may be attributed to increased runoff as well as post monsoon application of OCPs. In September 2022 we again measured OCP concentrations in surface water and sediment. The mean concentration of 14 of the 20 measured OCPs were found to be significantly lower in the post-pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic time. These lower pesticide concentrations may indicate a reduced use of OCPs in agricultural practices during the pandemic. This area was identified as being at the highest Level of Concern, even though the OCP concentrations alone conformed to general guidelines.

Synthetic Detergents (Surfactants) and Organochlorine Pesticide Signatures in Surface Water and Groundwater of Greater Kolkata, India

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2009

Synthetic Detergents (Surfactants) and Organochlorine Pesticide Signatures in Surface Water and Groundwater of Greater Kolkata, India

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2018

Dipankar Saha

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 resi-dues analysed from 54 and 19 sampling stations covering groundwater and surface water sources respec-tively, 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.

Synthetic Detergents (Surfactants) and Organochlorine Pesticide Signatures in Surface Water and Groundwater of Greater Kolkata, India

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2009

Naresh Chandra Ghose

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.

Genetic manipulations of microorganisms for the degradation of hexachlorocyclohexane

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1997

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is an organochlorine insecticide which has been banned in technologically advanced countries. However, it is still in use in tropical countries for mosquito control and thus new areas continue to be contaminated. Anaerobic degradation of HCH isomers have been well documented but until recently there have been only a few reports on aerobic microbial degradation of HCH isomers. The isolation of these microbes made it possible to design experiments for the cloning of the catabolic genes responsible for degradation. We review the microbial degradation of HCH isomers coupled with the genetic manipulations of the catabolic genes. The first part discusses the persistence of residues in the environment and microbial degradation while the second part gives an account of the genetic manipulations of catabolic genes involved in the degradation.

Assessment of bacteriological and physicochemical qualities of drinking water from some selected boreholes located in the industrial areas of Kano metropolis

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2016

This study investigated borehole waters located within the industrial areas of Bompai, Sharada (Sabuwar gandu), Challawa (Tsamawa) and Jaba (a non-industrial area-serving as control) with a view to determine their physicochemical and bacteriological qualities. A total of Eight (8) boreholes (two from each location) were sampled and the water analyzed for their mean bacterial counts, coliform and faecal coliform counts using standard plate counts and most probable number technique respectively. The physicochemical parameters monitored included pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solid, Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand, Turbidity, chloride, nitrate, phosphate, zinc, iron, lead, manganese and chromium. The mean bacterial counts, coliform and faecal coliform counts in the samples from Sabuwar Gandu (SB1) were shown to be 1.9 x 10 3 cfu/ml, 24 MPN/100ml and 16 MPN/100ml, respectively. These were higher than the counts recorded in borehole waters form the control site (NB2) with mean values of <10 cfu/ml, <3 MPN/100ml and 0 MPN/100ml, respectively. Cultural, morphological and biochemical characterization of bacterial genera isolated include E. coli, Pseudomonas sp., Shigella sp., Proteus sp., Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus sp., Salmonella sp. and Enterobacter sp. The borehole samples showed mean average value of Lead (0.01mg/l), EC (483.75), TDS (54.01mg/l), DO (4.12mg/l), BOD (1.2mg/l), Zinc (0.91mg/l), Iron (0.16mg/l), Manganese (0.29mg/l) and Chromium (0.05mg/l). The result showed that some of the borehole are not within the recommended limit of WHO (2010) and NSDWQ (2007) standard for drinking water and should therefore be protected and treated before consumption.

Pesticide residues in drinking water, their potential risk to human health and removal options

Article

Dec 2021
J ENVIRON MANAGE

The application of pesticides in agricultural and public health sectors has resulted in substantially contaminated water resources with residues in many countries. Almost no reviews have addressed pesticide residues in drinking water globally; calculated hazard indices for adults, children, and infants; or discussed the potential health risk of pesticides to the human population. The objectives of this article were to summarize advances in research related to pesticide residues in drinking water; conduct health risk assessments by estimating the daily intake of pesticide residues consumed only from drinking water by adults, children, and infants; and summarize options for pesticide removal from water systems. Approximately 113 pesticide residues were found in drinking water samples from 31 countries worldwide. There were 61, 31, and 21 insecticide, herbicide, and fungicide residues, respectively. Four residues were in toxicity class IA, 14 residues were in toxicity class IB, 55 residues were in toxicity class II, 17 residues were in toxicity class III, and 23 residues were in toxicity class IV. The calculated hazard indices (HIs) exceeded the value of one in many cases. The lowest HI value (0.0001) for children was found in Canada, and the highest HI value (30.97) was found in Egypt, suggesting a high potential health risk to adults, children, and infants. The application of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) showed efficient removal of many pesticide classes. The combination of adsorption followed by biodegradation was shown to be an effective and efficient purification option. In conclusion, the consumption of water contaminated with pesticide residues may pose risks to human health in exposed populations.

Assessment of the impact of pesticide usage in groundwater aquifer of an agriculturally dominated area in North West India

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2020
Water Pract Tech

Groundwater pollution due to several anthropogenic activities has been a worldwide problem, one such activity being injudicious pesticide usage in agriculture. Assessment of pesticide impact on groundwater is a prerequisite step towards the formulation of regulatory policies related to the pesticides application. Present study deals with assessment of the impact of pesticide usage in groundwater aquifer of an agriculturally dominated area in North West India. The relationship between the pesticide usage and its impact on the quality of groundwater has been established by employing a model named Pesticide Impact Rating Index (PIRI). For illustration, seven farms lying in Nakodar tehsil of Punjab state in India were considered. Based on the frequency of usage of various pesticides in the study area, four pesticides namely atrazine, chlorophyrifos, phorate and monocrotophos were selected for detailed analysis. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for observed values of pesticide residues. The observed residues were compared with the PIRI model estimates and results showed that though the observed values were higher corresponding to the estimated values, but the ratio seemed to be fluctuating within consistent range. Therefore multiplicative correction factors were introduced for the model estimates so as to predict realistic pesticide residues in an area.

Organic Micropollutants in Groundwater of India – A Review

Article

Sep 2019

Organochlorine pesticide residues in drinking water in the rural areas of Haryana, India

Article

Jan 2012
ENVIRON MONIT ASSESS

Drinking water samples collected from rural areas of three districts of Haryana during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods were analysed for the presence of organochlorine pesticide residues. The main source of drinking water in rural areas, i.e. groundwater in Ambala and Gurgaon districts and surface water supply in Hisar district, was found to be contaminated with isomers of HCH and endosulfan and metabolites of DDT, whereas dieldrin remained below detection limits. During the study period, the mean values observed for total HCH, DDT and endosulfan were 87.6, 848.2, and 27.4 ng/L and 99.8, 275.3 and 164.2 ng/L, respectively, for Ambala and Gurgaon districts. In the case of Hisar district, the values were 78.5, 115.9, and 53.0 ng/L, respectively. During the study period, 37% of the samples exceeded the total pesticide level of 500 ng/L indicated in the EECD directive for drinking water. Seasonal variations of pesticide residues were also observed during the study period.

Биодеградация триазиновых гербицидов

Article

Mar 2010

Untersuchungen zum Einsatz von biologisch abbaubaren Kunststoffen im Roto-Bioreaktor zur Denitrifikation und Elimination von organischen Schadstoffen in der Trinkwasseraufbereitung

Thesis

Jan 2013

Martin Kieninger

Bei der heterotrophen Denitrifikation mit biologisch abbaubaren Kunststoffen dienen diese der im Reaktor wachsenden Biozönose als organisches Substrat und gleichzeitig als Aufwuchskörper. Da die bioabbaubaren Kunststoffe in Form eines festen Granulats vorliegen, das wasserunlöslich ist, müssen diese hydrolysiert werden, bevor sie für die Denitrifikation genutzt werden können. Es wurde angenommen, dass die Menge an freigesetztem "gelöstem Kohlenstoff" durch die Biozönose selbst reguliert wird, was die Gefahr einer Überdosierung deutlich begrenzen sollte. Um die Vorteile, die bioabbaubare Kunststoffe bei der Denitrifikation bieten - gleichzeitig organisches Substrat und Aufwuchskörper - mit denen eines kontinuierlich betriebenen Systems zu verbinden, wurde als Reaktor ein Roto-Bioreaktor (RBR) ausgewählt. Dieser war mit einer ca. 60 L großen, in drei Kammern aufgeteilten Reaktortrommel ausgestattet. Betrieben wurde der RBR hauptsächlich bei einer Drehzahl von 5 h-1 und einem Volumenstrom von 75 L/h. Bei dem im RBR kontinuierlich denitrifizierten Wasser wurde die entstehende überschüssige Biomasse selbstständig ausgetragen. Unterbrechungen des Betriebs, wie z. B. bei Festbettreaktoren zum Spülen der Schüttung notwendig, waren beim RBR nicht erforderlich. Um den RBR an die kontinuierliche Denitrifikation mit einem in der Größe veränderlichen Granulat anzupassen und Verluste davon zu minimieren, wurde die ursprüngliche Spaltweite der Reaktorsiebe von 3,0 mm auf 1,5 mm verringert. Damit wurde erreicht, dass statt 42 % nur etwa 5 % des eingesetzten Polycaprolactons (PCL) als Partikel verloren ging. Die für den Verbrauch von PCL erstellte Massenbilanz zeigte, dass über diesen Anteil an partikulärem Substrat hinaus auch bereits gelöstes Substrat ungenutzt aus dem Reaktor ausgeschleust wurde. Dieser unerwünschte Austrag schränkt den Einsatz von PCL in der Trinkwasseraufbereitung ein, da in diesem Fall ein weiterer Behandlungsschritt des denitrifizierten Wassers zur Entfernung dieser Stoffe notwendig wäre. Anhand von simulierten Störungsszenarien, die beim Betrieb auftreten können, wurde festgestellt, dass sich die Denitrifikation am besten bei einer Drehzahl von 5 h-1 und 75 L/h einstellt. Die zu Anfang in falscher Reihenfolge angeordnete Kammersiebe führten, durch die im Verlauf der Reaktion kleiner werdenden Granulatkörner, vermehrt zu Verstopfungen und dadurch zu einem erhöhten Wartungsaufwand. Nach dem Vertauschen der Siebe verlängerten sich die Intervalle zwischen den Wartungen wieder. Es konnte so gezeigt werden, dass ein Betrieb des RBR mit einem größenveränderlichen Granulat prinzipiell möglich ist. Ein Mehrnutzen von PCL gegenüber flüssigen organischen Substraten ergibt sich aus der Möglichkeit der Sorption von PBSM, die bereits für das Insektizid Endosulfan nachgewiesen wurde. Um das Sorptionsvermögen für weitere PBSM zu erkunden, wurden elf PBSM ausgewählt und in den RBR dosiert. Für einige der ausgewählten PBSM schienen die ermittelten Kontaktzeiten zwischen PCL und PBSM im Reaktor zu gering, als dass eine deutliche Sorption an PBSM hätte erwartet werden können. Die für die untersuchten PBSM berechneten Wiederfindungsraten (z. B. ca. 74 % für Metolachlor) zeigten allerdings, dass für einzelne PBSM durchaus eine deutliche Konzentrationsminderung über Sorption möglich war. Im Rahmen der PBSM-Analytik wurde im Wasser des Reaktorablaufs die unerwünschte Substanz Diisopropylanilin (DIPA) gefunden, für die die Europäische Behörde für Lebensmittelsicherheit (EFSA) eine Begrenzung des Migrationswertes aus Lebensmittelverpackungen empfohlen hat (< 0,05 mg DIPA/kg Lebensmittel). Das in dieser Arbeit verwendete PCL (Capa 6500, Fa. Solvay), aus dem dieser Stoff freigesetzt wird, sollte in der Trinkwasseraufbereitung nicht zum Einsatz kommen. Als Alternativen zu dem verwendeten PCL wurden vom Kooperationspartner MLU (TP V) verschiedene Biocompounds (Mischungen von PCL mit anderen bioabbaubaren Kunststoffen, EP 1 068 152 B1) hergestellt und mit dem analytischen Verfahren der Thermoextraktion auf potenziell mobilisierbare Stoffe untersucht. Die Ergebnisse der Analysen zeigten, dass im Falle der Biocompounds die Verarbeitung während des Herstellungsprozesses einen wesentlichen Einfluss auf die im Kunststoff enthaltene Menge an DIPA hat. Die Fa. Solvay stellte - nachdem sie auf das Problem der DIPA-Kontamination hingewiesen worden war - eine DIPA-freie PCL-Charge zur Verfügung. Sowohl Biocompounds als auch PCL selbst lassen sich demnach DIPA-frei herstellen. Sollen biologisch abbaubare Kunststoffe in der Trinkwasseraufbereitung verwendet werden, so ergibt sich die Notwendigkeit, dass entsprechende Mindestqualitätsforderungen an die Kunststoffe gestellt werden müssen. Insbesondere müssen Vorgaben gemacht werden, die die Gefahr von unerwünschten, ggf. sogar gesundheitsschädlichen Zusätzen, die potenziell aus abbaubaren Kunststoffen während des Denitrifikationsprozesses freigesetzt werden, minimieren.

Distribution of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Urban Aquatic Systems

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2014

The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in the water and sediments of two urban aquatic bodies has been studied. The total PAHs concentration in the water of the lakes and the river ranged from 4.85 to 18.2 ng mL-1 and 0.29 to 46.2 ng mL-1 , respectively. The profile of individual PAHs in the water of both the aquatic systems is similar but different in sediments. The total PAHs concentration in sediments ranged from 952 to 5353 ng g-1 and 649 to 7910 ng g-1 for the lakes and river, respectively. The maximum pesticide concentrations in water and sediments of the lakes were 4.12 (aldrin), 2.26 (endrin), 6.17 (pp'-DDT), 5.98 ng mL-1 (α-endosulfan) and 167 (aldrin), 124 (endrin), 513 (pp'-DDT), 349 ng g-1 (α-endosulfan), respectively. The aldrin and endrin were absent at all the sites of the Yamuna. The maximum concentration of pp'-DDT and α-endosulfan in river water was 3.37 ng mL-1 and 3.55 ng mL-1 and in sediments 525 ng g-1 and 194 ng g-1 , respectively. The possible ecotoxicological effects of OCPs on aquatic environment have also been discussed.

328024 Dynamics, Source Diagnosis, and Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Water and Sediments of the Urban Aquatic Bodies

Conference Paper

Nov 2013

Rahul Kumar

Organic compounds which are persistent, posses toxic characteristics, liable to bioaccumulate, prone to long range atmospheric transport and can cause adverse environmental and human health effects at locations near and far from their sources can be defined as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are the two important categories of POPs which are highly toxic to human beings, animals and plants. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are the product of any combustion process involving materials containing carbon and hydrogen namely coal, oil, petrol, wood etc. Emissions from the anthropogenic activities predominate, but some PAHs in the environment arise from natural combustion such as forest fires and volcanoes. PAHs occur naturally in crude oil and form a significant component of the petroleum products such as paints, creosote (used in wood preservation) and asphalt (used for road paving). There are some minor biogenic sources like plants, algae/phytoplankton and microorganisms and small amounts are formed by diagenesis in the lake sediments. Organochlorine pesticides comprise a group of structurally diverse compounds with a large number of chlorine atoms. These pesticides have a tendency to bioaccumulate in the food chain and pose a great threat to the human health and the global environment. In spite of the ban on their use they are still being used in some of the developing countries, especially in the tropical regions, for health, agriculture and preservation purposes. Pesticides that are not bound in soils or taken up by the plants and animals can drain into rivers and lakes and move into the aquatic food chain. The lakes and the rivers are two important types of surface water systems containing only 0.3% of the total global fresh water which is generally used for drinking purpose. These surface water resources, therefore, are precious and extremely sensitive and once degraded it would take immense efforts to revive them. In view of the above water and sediment samples were collected from two different types of urban surface water bodies of India. One of the water bodies is a lake system of Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh-a central state of India) and the other body is the stretch of river Yamuna at Delhi-the capital city of India. The aquatic systems under investigation are the typical urban aquatic systems and exist in the densely populated areas. Both of the systems are in different geographical locations. These surface water bodies being urban are expected to suffer with some similar types of anthropogenic activities. The various types of industrial, agricultural and domestic activities in the catchment area create different level of anthropogenic stress. For the extraction of PAHs from water and sediment samples the method followed by Chen et al. [1] was adopted. The mobile phase was a gradient of acetonitrile and degassed water (50% acetonitrile held for 7 min; linear gradient to 80% acetonitrile in 7 to 20 min; 80% acetonitrile held till 25 min and linear gradient to 95% acetonitrile from 25 to 30 min) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min-1. The analysis was carried out at 254 nm and the individual PAH was identified and quantified by comparing the retention time and peak area with those of the standards. The procedure for extraction and cleanup of OCPs from both water and sediments is the same as outlined by Wan et al. [2]. The mobile phase was acetonitrile and water (70:30) with isocratic mode and a flow rate of 1.3 mL min-1. The analysis of aldrin, endrin, pp'-DDT and α-endosulfan was performed at the wavelength 220, 228, 238 and 214 nm, respectively. The individual pesticide was identified and quantified on the basis of retention time and peak area. PAHs and OCPs were analyzed with HPLC equipped with a UV-detector (Agilent 1100, USA) and recorder. An octadecyl endcapped RP-C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 µm particle size) was used. The total PAHs (∑PAH) concentration in the water of the lakes and the river ranged from 4.85 to 18.2 ng/mL and 0.29 to 46.2 ng/mL, respectively. The profile of individual PAH in the water of both the aquatic systems is similar but different in sediments. The total PAHs concentration in sediments ranged from 952 to 5353 ng/g and 649 to 7910 ng/g for the lakes and river, respectively. The maximum pesticide concentrations in water and sediments of the lakes were 4.12 (aldrin), 2.26 (endrin), 6.17 (pp'-DDT), 5.98 ng/mL (α-endosulfan) and 167 (aldrin), 124 (endrin), 513 (pp'-DDT), 349 ng/g (α-endosulfan), respectively. The aldrin and endrin were absent at all the sites of the Yamuna. The maximum concentration of pp'-DDT and α-endosulfan in river water was 3.37 ng/mL and 3.55 ng/mL and in sediments 525 ng/g and 194 ng/g, respectively. A perusal of the data points out that certain areas of the two aquatic systems are severely contaminated with PAHs and pesticides. The ∑PAH concentrations in water at some points of the lake system are above the lethal concentration and may cause acute toxicity to the exposed organisms. The data in the case of river indicate that both water and sediments are highly contaminated with PAHs. In both the cases the source of PAHs is mainly pyrogenic in nature. The potential toxicity due to total PAH concentrations will be rare in the lake system. The scenario is totally different in the case of river sediments where at most of the sites the toxic effects will be occasional. The apparent reasons for the deterioration of the said water bodies due to PAHs are dumping of untreated waste and a common practice of open burning of a variety of solid waste on the banks of the aquatic bodies. Apart from this, localized activity like plying of diesel operated motor boats is also contributing to the PAH pollution in the lake system. The major contributing activities responsible for PAHs contamination to the river through surface runoff and atmospheric transport are thermal power plants, heavy vehicular traffic load and domestic and industrial waste. A comparison of the two aquatic systems under study indicates that the ∑PAH concentrations in the river are about two times higher than those detected in the lakes. The PAH profiles in the water of the two systems are similar but the profiles in the sediments are different. As far as the contamination due to pesticides is concerned aldrin is detected only at a few sites of the lake system and the other pesticides are observed only at sites surrounded by agricultural land. Endrin, pp'-DDT and α-endosulfan, wherever detected in water, are generally above the prescribed limit of acute toxicity. Aldrin and endrin are not detected in water and sediments of the river. Both the water and the sediments of the river are heavily contaminated with α-endosulfan and pp'-DDT. The biological impairments due endrin in the lakes and pp'-DDT in the river will be frequent as their levels in the sediments are above PEL. The accumulation of pesticides in the sediments may affect the natural bacterial composition and can lead to anaerobic conditions which may result in more toxic byproducts such as sulfide and ammonia. References: [1]. Chen, B., Xiaodong, X., Lizhong, Z., Jing, W., Yanzheng, G., Kun, Y., Xueyou, S. and Baofeng, L., “Distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface waters, sediments and soils of Hangzhou City, China”, Water Res. 38, 3558 (2004). [2]. Wan, M.T., Kuo, J. and Pasternak, J., “Residues of endosulfan and other selected organochlorine pesticides in farm areas of the lower Fraser valley, British Columbia, Canada”, J. Environ. Qual. 34, 1186 (2005).

IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING OF PESTICIDES IN A WELL FIELD IN DELHI, INDIA

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Oct 2009

Pesticide residues in drinking water have been appeared as major challenge over the last few years. In this work efforts are made to assess the level of pesticides in public water supply resources in national capital territory i.e. New Delhi, India. A total of 16 different organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were identified from potable water samples. The majority of pesticides were isomers of HCH, DDT, endosulphan, endrin, aldrin, dialdrin and heptachlore. The concentration of pesticides varied from below detectable limit (BDL) to higher than maximum permissible limits. Results thus suggested that continuous consumption of contaminated can pose sever health threats in local residents of this area.

Environment and human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in India: A systematic review of recent and historical data

Article

May 2014

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.

Contamination of aquatic system by chlorinated pesticides and their spatial distribution over North-East India

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2011

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.

Fate and Degradation of POP-Hexachlorocyclohexane

Article

Aug 2009

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and its isomers are one of the most frequently detected chlorinated contaminants in the environment. In spite of the ban on technical grade HCH and restricted use of γ-HCH (lindane), its residues have not stopped from entering the environment. Its extensive use in the past, present use of lindane in several countries, unused stockpiles of date-expired HCH from earlier manufacturing, as well as leachates from earlier disposal at dump sites continue to pollute the biosphere. Because HCH is a persistent organic pollution (POP) known to have several toxic and deleterious effects on human health and wildlife, it becomes imperative to remove this substance of serious concern to the global community. A better understanding on the fate and degradation of this POP in the environment will facilitate in drawing measures to mitigate this chemical and bring about bioremediation of already contaminated sites. This review focuses on the fate, contamination levels, abiotic and biotic degradation of HCH isomers, genes and enzymes involved in microbial degradation, and future research needs in this area.

Contamination profile of DDT and HCH in surface sediments and their spatial distribution from North-East India

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2013
ECOTOX ENVIRON SAFE

Contamination status and spatial distribution of DDTs and HCHs were investigated in sediments collected from ponds and riverine system from districts Nagaon and Dibrugarh, North East India. A total of 113 surface sediment samples were collected from both the districts including 43 from ponds/wetlands and 70 from rivers/streams. Based on dry weight (dw), the mean concentration of ∑HCH and ∑DDT in sediments were found to be 287ng/g (71.2-834ng/g) and 321ng/g (30.1-918ng/g) for district Dibrugarh while 330ng/g (39.2-743ng/g) and 378ng/g (72.5-932ng/g) for district Nagaon, respectively. DDTs and HCHs in sediments were well influenced by total organic carbon, clay and silt content of sediments. Source identification revealed that sediment residue levels have originated from long and recent mixed source of technical HCH and Lindane for HCHs and mainly technical DDT for DDTs. Majority of samples exceeded the sediment quality guidelines (SQG) for γ-HCH, p,p'-DDT and ∑DDT indicating potential environmental risk. This baseline data can be used as reference for regular ecological and future POPs monitoring program.

Great Barrier Reef Water Quality: Current Issues

Book

Jan 2001

David Haynes

Executive summary This document aims to provide an overview of current issues and information concerning water quality in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. It is intended to provide the necessary context and background in support of a related strategy paper, entitled Water Quality, Coastal Development and the Great Barrier Reef: Strategic Direction of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, in which detailed strategies to address land-based run-off and ship-sourced pollution are described. The Great Barrier Reef is a relatively unspoiled environment. However, the region is a focus for agricultural production, tourism, shipping and expanding urban centres. These activities all present a threat to the Great Barrier Reef from pollutant inputs. Although the region is relatively sparsely populated, extensive land modification (land clearing) has occurred over the last 200 years since European settlement. As a consequence, run-off resulting from land-based agricultural activities (cattle grazing, vegetation clearance and intensive cropping, particularly sugar cane) and from urban development is the primary anthropogenic influence on water quality in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The pre-eminent water quality threats to the Great Barrier Reef have long been regarded as elevated sediment and nutrient concentrations. Additional threats are potentially posed by pollutants such as heavy metals, persistent chlorohydrocarbons, PCBs and petroleum-related compounds, although these are considered to be of lesser consequence. However, a new concern is the potential impact posed by diuron, dioxins, dieldrin, mercury and cadmium concentrations that have been detected in sediments and biota along the Great Barrier Reef and southern Queensland coastline. In general, these pollutants of concern originate from the wet tropics region; an area dominated by intensive cropping, and renowned for its high rainfall and erosion rates. The potential impacts of elevated pollutant concentrations in Great Barrier Reef waters range from reduced growth and reproduction in organisms, to major shifts in community structure and health of coral reef and seagrass ecosystems. Coastal and inshore coral reefs and seagrass communities adjacent to human activity are most threatened from the pollutants contained in run-off from the land. There is sufficient field evidence to show the threat to these inshore reefs, together with evidence of a decline in their condition. If fundamental changes in landmanagement do not occur, the health of the inshore areas of the Great Barrier Reef is likely to continue to decline. A decline in ecosystem health of these estuarine and inshore areas will impact on the World Heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef, which has implications for Australia’s national and international obligations for the protection and conservation of a World Heritage Area. Additionally, this may also impact on the viability of industries such as tourism and fisheries that rely on the long-term health of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Corals of the Great Barrier Reef region, in common with coral reefs worldwide, are also threatened, to varying degrees, by increased seawater temperatures and altered water chemistry due to global atmospheric change. These may lead to reduced viability or even death of corals and to progressive weakening of reef structures. These changes will continue to threaten reefs globally unless effective worldwide action to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions is taken. A comprehensive strategic framework is currently being developed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to deal with pollutants from land based run-off and ship sources. It aims to clearly define responsibilities of Commonwealth and Queensland governments and promote a culture of mutual obligation between industry, government and the community. This will ensure that existing and emerging planning instruments that include water quality objectives and agreed criteria for auditing progress, are integrated and used to address water quality problems. A sound legislative framework already exists to prevent and respond to incidents of marine pollution arising from shipping activities. However, the shipping strategy currently being developed as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s strategy will help minimise adverse impacts of shipping activities within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This will be achieved by enhancing current management arrangements and ensuring that best practice is maintained. This will involve an international strategy and clarification of roles and responsibilities, as well as ensuring that Commonwealth and Queensland resources are coordinated in order to maximise emergency response capabilities. To ensure these management strategies are working, long-term monitoring programs are required to enable assessment of change in environmentally relevant water pollutant concentrations. Water chemistry data derived using innovative data acquisition techniques can play an early warning role in the assessment of impacts of contaminants on mangrove, seagrass and coral reef organisms of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Moreover, such monitoring could contribute to the understanding of interactions of contaminants with high ultraviolet light and temperature conditions associated with global atmospheric change. Without consideration of the subtle impacts of chemical contaminants, managers will fail to fully understand the status of tropical marine ecosystems and the risks associated with anthropogenic impacts.

Bioaccumulation profiles of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and organochlorine pesticides in Ganges River dolphins

Article

Full-text available

Jul 1999
ENVIRON TOXICOL CHEM

Isomer-specific concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) including non-, mono-, and di-ortho-substituted congeners, DDT and its metabolites, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, chlordane compounds, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were determined in river dolphin blubber and prey fishes collected during 1993 through 1996 from the River Ganges in India. Concentrations of organochlorines were also measured in the milk and liver of dolphins, benthic invertebrates, and sediments. The DDTs and PCBs were the predominant compounds found in dolphin tissues and fish that comprise the diet of dolphins. Concentrations of DDTs and PCBs in the blubber of dolphins were in the range of 30 to 120 and 1.5 to 25 μg/g, lipid weight, respectively. Pentaand hexachlorobiphenyls collectively accounted for 68 to 80% of the total PCB concentrations in river dolphins. Hexachlorobiphenyl congener 138 (2,2′,3,4,4′,5′-) was the most abundant in dolphin blubber and prey fishes. The isomer/congener pattern of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides suggested that there is less metabolism due to cytochrome P450 enzymes in Ganges river dolphins than in marine or terrestrial mammals. The mean 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) estimated in river dolphin blubber was greater than those that can cause adverse effects in mink. Comparison of organochlorine concentrations in river dolphins with those of the values reported for samples analyzed during 1988 through 1992 suggested that the contamination by these compounds has increased in the River Ganges.

Organochlorine, Heavy Metal and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Pollutant Concentrations in the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) Environment: a Review

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2000
MAR POLLUT BULL

Past monitoring of heavy metals, organochlorine compounds and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has found that pollutant concentrations are generally low within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area and are indicative of a relatively unpolluted environment. The exceptions are sites that are adjacent to human activity such as ports and harbours, urban centres and areas adjacent to intensive agricultural activity. These sites have elevated concentrations of a range of pollutants. Concentrations of dioxins have also been found to be elevated in marine park sediments. Elevated pollutant concentrations are generally the consequence of effluent discharge, urban stormwater, and agricultural and industrial runoff. However, a majority of Great Barrier Reef pollutant data are now dated, and contemporary information is required concerning the distribution and impact of pollutants in the Queensland marine environment. The utility of specialized monitoring tools such as biomarkers for tropical marine environments urgently needs to be examined. With this information, appropriate risk assessment and monitoring can be implemented and effective management strategies developed to protect tropical marine ecosystems including the Great Barrier Reef.

Industrial pollution and heavy metals profile of Challawa River in Kano, Nigeria

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2010

The study analyzed the effect of heavy metals discharge, from industrial effluents, on River Challawa in Kano, Nigeria. The Challawa River is used for many purposes including irrigation, fishing and water supply. Sampling was conducted during wet (September) and dry (May) season. Wastewater samples at the point of discharge into the river were collected and analyzed. The mean level of Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mn discharged into the river, during dry season, were 2.297, 1.290, 1.051, 2.986, 9.408 and 2.054 mg L-1 respectively. Similarly, the mean discharge of these metals, during wet season, was 1.634, 0.727, 1.252, 22.230, 8.911, and 2.013mg L-1 respectively. The discharge Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn into the river, for both seasons, has exceeded the maximum permissible limit given by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Nigeria (FEPA) and WHO. The Challawa River is also sampled at points along its length and the presence of some of these pollutants was evident at the various points. Level of Cr, Pb, Mn and Fe in the river, for both seasons, were found to be higher than the maximum limits given by FEPA and WHO, and this calls for a caution. The need to bring to an end the indiscriminate discharge of untreated effluent into the river through the enforcement of FEPA guidelines is also highlighted.

An assessment of the pollutant status of surficial sediment in Cork Harbour in the South East of Ireland with particular reference to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Article

Jan 2005
MAR POLLUT BULL

Surface sediment from three polluted sites within Cork Harbour, Ireland, and from a relatively clean reference site were collected and analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organotins (OTs), and heavy metals. PAHs were determined to be the most abundant class of contaminant. Concentrations of the sum (Sigma) of the 21 PAHs measured from the Harbour sites (2877.70 ng g(-1), 1000.7 ng g(-1) and 924.40 ng g(-1) dry weight respectively) were significantly higher than that of the sediment from the reference site (528.30 ng g(-1) dry weight). An inner harbour site, Douglas being the more contaminated of the three harbour sites. A similar pattern was observed with the other contaminants however, these compounds, with the exception of the heavy metals, all tended to be detected at concentrations on or below detection limits.

DDT and HCH residue load in mother's breast milk: A survey of lactating mother's from remote villages in Agra region

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2006
ENVIRON INT

Breast milk is the natural and optimal food for the infants. In addition to meeting the nutritional needs, breast milk provides numerous immunological, developmental, psychological, ecological and practical advantages. The levels of the DDT and HCH residues in human milk collected from remote rural part of Agra were analysed. Beta and gamma isomers of HCH accounts for the major residue of total HCH excreted in breast milk. Delta-HCH was not detected in the samples. 95% of the samples were found to be contaminated with DDT and its metabolites. DDD was found in 88% of the samples analyzed. The total concentration of DDT and HCH were found lower than the previous studies carried out in India. The study shows the decreasing levels of these organochlorine pesticides from the environment. Total concentration of total DDT is higher than total HCH.

Dieldrin

Chapter

Mar 2024

Dieldrin, classified as a chlorinated cyclodiene compound and a popular pesticide, was ranked second in the United States in the 1960s among all the agricultural pesticides. Globally, it was a well-known insecticide for mothproofing clothes as well as for treating pests for crops such as cotton, corn, etc. However, its transformation from agricultural benefit to environmental and health issue demonstrates the intricacies of pesticide use. Dieldrin’s persistence in the environment became a major worry that led to its inclusion among the Dirty Dozens by the Stockholm Convention, initiating a ban on its production, usage, and trade globally. However, its exhaustive applications have left the evidences of this pollutant since its residues remain in soil, sediments, etc., and even animals, serving as a constant reminder of the long-term repercussions of unrestrained chemical usage. This chapter is an attempt to delve into the varied consequences and records of residual dieldrin especially in India to understand its current fate and status.

Avaliação dos teores de endosulfan em diferentes profundidades do solo

Article

Full-text available

Dec 1996

Amostras de solo arenoso tratado com o produto formulado Thiodan 35 EC(350 g/L) , aplicado por pulverização sob condições de boa prática agrícola nas dosagens simples e dupla de 6,0 e 12,OUha., 7,65 e 15,3 Llha, enviadas por uma Estação Experimental em Cosrnópolis Estado de São Paulo foram coletadas e analisadas a fim de serem avaliados os teores de resíduo de endosulfan, em três níveis de profundidade, após um determinado período de 14,90,180,570 e 930 dias. O método de análise utilizado foi o descrito por Mitchell, com modificações que permitiram obter melhores recuperações nas amostras testemunhas fortificadas ao nível de 0,0 Img/kg de a e ~ endosulfan e de 0,02mg/kgde sulfato de endosulfan (86,0%,82,0% e 80,0%, respectivamente). Na profundidade de 0-30 em foi determinado o metabólito sulfato, em 100,0% das amostras (0,0 1-0,35 mg/kg), o isômero ~ em 88,9% «O,Ol - 0,21 mg/kg) e o a endosulfan em 66,7% «0,0 I - O,II mg/kg). Na profundidade de 30-60 em as amostras analisadas mostraram que 66,7% (0,01- 0,07 mg/kg) continham o sulfato, 44,4%«0,01- 0,02 mg/kg) o ~ e 33,3% «0,01 - 0,02 mg/kg) o o, As amostras de solo colhidas na profundidade de 60-90 em não apresentaram resíduos ao nível do limite de determinação de 0,0 I mg/kg (ppm) para os isôrneros e metabólito, exceto em uma com valor de 0,0 I mg/kg (ppm) para o sulfato. Os valores de endosulfan encontrados descrescerarn no solo arenoso estudado à medida que aumentou a profundidade.

Introduction to Microconstituents

Chapter

Full-text available

May 2023

Agrochemicals as a potential cause of ground water pollution: A review

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2018

The increasing food demand to feed the continuously increasing world population has put a lot of pressure on our already over burdened agricultural system. The urge to grow more food has made us dependent on more use of agrochemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. Indiscriminate use of agrochemicals has increased the production of crops but it has also posed severe hazards to environment because it has contaminated the natural resources, like groundwater. Agriculture is both a cause as well as victim of ground water pollution. Various agriculture practices leads to discharge of pollutants and sediments into ground water system. When this contaminated and polluted water is used as source of irrigation, it contaminated the crop and transmits its ill effects in the ecosystem.

Industrial Pollution and Implication on Source of Water Supply in Kano, Nigeria

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2010

The study analyzed the effect of Industrial waste discharge on River Challawa and Tamburawa old water treatment plant, located downstream of the effluent discharge points. Mean level of heavy metals including chromium, copper, lead, zinc, iron and manganese discharged into the river were 2.297, 1.290, 1.051, 2.986, 9.408 and 2.054mg/l respectively. Similarly, mean level of total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, and conductivity in the effluent were 47183mg/l, 3105mg/l, 10.11, and 5942 micromhos/cm respectively. With the exception of iron and manganese, discharge of other pollutants measured has exceeded the maximum permissible limit given by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Nigeria (FEPA) and WHO. Presence of some of these pollutants, at various points along the Challawa River, was observed and level of these pollutants at varying degrees was found. Similarly, it was discovered that level of chromium, lead, manganese, iron, and TSS in the raw water used by the treatment plant have exceeded the maximum permissible limits of drinking water recommended by FEPA and WHO. Since the treatment given to the raw water is disinfection alone, there is tendency of these pollutants to persist in the water and its uptake may cause long term health problems.

Impact of agricultural pesticides and fertilizers on groundwater quality in an agro-urban area

Article

Jan 2008

The present work targets the unconfined aquifer in a tropical study area exhibiting agro-urban land use. The values of nitrate generally lie within the permissible drinking water limits. The total concentration of pesticides of the groundwater samples in the study area, however, was found to exceed the permissible limits at most of the sampling sites. The majority of the central and southeastern parts of the study area emerged as the most vulnerable as evaluated by the DRASTIC index. According to the GUS classification, the most mobile of the pesticides applied in the study area is dimethoate. This pesticide was applied at the experimental farm for wheat cultivation, and its dissipation was simulated by employing the PRZM3 model. The model predicted its half-life as 7 days in soil and showed almost complete dissipation in surficial soils within one year after application.

Groundwater and Its Pollution

Article

Oct 1997

In the present paper, the authors discussed ground water and its pollution by various sources.

Рост некоторых почвенных аэробных бактерий в присутствии инсектицидов актара и конфидор

Article

Mar 2011

Groundwater quality

Article

Jun 1996

In this review, papers considering fate and transport processes in groundwater systems are discussed first. The fate and transport process papers are divided among saturated systems, vadoze zone systems and systems containing nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). Within these categories, subdivisions are made between physical, chemical, or biological processes such as hydrodynamics, sorption-desorption, chemical reactions and biodegradation. Next, papers concerning groundwater quality monitoring and groundwater remediation are divided among various techniques or specific phases. Papers that are concerned with general field studies of fate and transport are ordered by compounds or source classification. Lastly, papers describing risk assessment and groundwater protection are discussed.

The growth of some soil aerobic bacteria in the presence of insecticides Actara and Confidor

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2011

Ability of some cultures of the microorganisms isolated from the soil on the territory of the burial ground of agricultural pesticides (“the Nubarashen burial ground of toxic compounds”) to destroy the chlorine-containing insecticides thiamethoxam (“ACTARA”) and imidacloprid (“CONFIDOR”) was investigated. A number of cultures, tolerant to the presence of high concentration of actara and confidor in the medium (at the limit of solubility of these compounds in water) were revealed. Poorly expressed ability at some of them to destroy actara during the cultivation of these cultures in liquid cultural media is found out. The growth of microorganisms during the fermentation carrying out in the medium with confidor practically was not observed. On the bases of number of appearance the cultures are related to Pseudomonas genus. The considerable phenotypic changes on the appearance of colonies after inoculation on MPA of the cultures, having long contact with actara, during the calculation of colony-forming cells in the process of fermentations on the insecticide containing medium are found out. As the given phenomenon was observed only at a part of formed colonies (approximately 5-10 %), it is permissibly to make an assumption about the mutagenic influence of actara on the cultures. Besides, the formation of phenomenon “halo” around of colonies at a number of strains after several re-inoculations on the solid minimal medium containing actara as a source of carbon and nitrogen is revealed. Return inoculation on MPA led to disappearance of the phenomenon. During the growth in the presence of confidor the formation of “halo” was not observed.

Organochlorine insecticide residues in agricultural soils of the Indo-Gangetic plain

Article

May 1996

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.

Modeling the role of phytoremediation in mitigating groundwater contamination in India

Article

Jan 2004
J Environ Syst

Contamination of groundwater due to pesticides has become a major issue of concern in India. However, there are now attempts to contain and control this problem through phytoremediation, which is a very cost-effective and innovative technology. On the other hand, none of the hitherto developed models for groundwater contamination has incorporated an explicit role for phytoremediation. We have accordingly modified an earlier model used for studying groundwater contamination, and conducted sensitivity studies of the resulting model. It turns out that groundwater contamination has strongest dependence on the parameters, that represent the underground gradient of microbial population density.

Pesticide and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Great Barrier Reef Sediment, Seagrass and Dugong

Article

David Haynes

Occurrence of organochlorine pesticide residues in green mussel (Perna viridis L.) and water from Ennore creek, Chennai, India

Article

Jan 2009
ENVIRON MONIT ASSESS

Green mussel (Perna viridis) and water samples were collected from Ennore creek, Chennai by seasonal sampling and analyzed for organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPs) like dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and endosulfan. These residues were analyzed by using gas chromatograph (GC) with microECD. In the present study, mussel samples showed very low concentrations of OCPs in the statistical order of DDT (5.83 ng g(-1) wet tissue)>endosulfan (2.84 ng g(-1) wet tissue)>HCH (2.34 ng g(-1) wet tissue). Concentrations of OCPs in water samples were in the statistical order of endosulfan (29.21 ng L(-1))>HCH (17.14 ng L(-1))>DDT (14.63 ng L(-1)). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the seasonal variation of OCPs and especially the quantification of endosulfan in Ennore Creek. The present study recommends that continuous monitoring in Ennore creek is necessary to assess possible impact on human health.

Organochlorine Insecticide Residues in Drinking and Ground Water in and Around Delhi

Article

Jul 2002

A multiresidue method was developed for the estimation of 15 organochlorine pesticides in water. 50 samples of drinking water supplied by the Municipal Corporation to the residential areas of Delhi and 20 ground water samples from nearby villages used for irrigation were monitored for the presence of organochlorine insecticides by the method developed. Although, organochlorine pesticides were detected in the ground water and irrigation water samples, the levels of pesticides were below the Maximum Contaminant Level as prescribed by WHO. No organochlorine insecticides were detected in any of the drinking water samples.

Persistent Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Alluvial Groundwater Aquifers of Gangetic Plains, India

Article

Feb 2005

Without Abstract

Organochlorine pesticide residues in ground water of Thiruvallur district, India

Article

Jun 2007

Modern agriculture practices reveal an increase in use of pesticides and fertilizers to meet the food demand of increasing population which results in contamination of the environment. In India crop production increased to 100% but the cropping area has increased marginally by 20%. Pesticides have played a major role in achieving the maximum crop production, but maximum usage and accumulation of pesticide residues was highly detrimental to aquatic and other ecosystem. The present study was chosen to know the level of organochlorines contamination in ground water of Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The samples were highly contaminated with DDT, HCH, endosulfan and their derivatives. Among the HCH derivatives, Gamma HCH residues was found maximum of 9.8 microg/l in Arumbakkam open wells. Concentrations of pp-DDT and op-DDT were 14.3 microg/l and 0.8 microg/l. The maximum residue (15.9 microg/l) of endosulfan sulfate was recorded in Kandigai village bore well. The study showed that the ground water samples were highly contaminated with organochlorine residues.

Bibliography of Environmental Studies in Natural Characteristics and Anthropogenic Influences on the Ganga River

Article

Jul 2007

During the second half of the 20th century, the Ganga River ecosystem has been continuously altered by several ongoing anthropogenic processes, accommodating multi-dimensional pressure due to increase of nearly four-fold human population. For solution of any environmental issues of the river, the Earth System Science approach is required to have maximum socio-economic benefits to millions of people living in Indian and Bangladesh. A bibliography containing more than 250 references on environmental studies of the Ganga River was prepared to preserve its ecosystem by providing the baseline support in this regard.

Organochlorine residuals in groundwater of Pondicherry region

Article

Feb 2007

Nineteen representative water samples were collected from surface and ground water sources, covering urban, rural area, shallow and deep aquifers in Pondicherry region. The samples were analysed for various pesticide residues such as HCH, Aldrin and DDT. Both surface and ground water sources found to exhibit the residuals of various pesticides. The residual levels oforganochlorine pesticides were found to be three to four times more in ground water sources of agricultural areas than in urban areas, indicating the impact of usage of pesticides for agriculture. It is evident that total residuals of organochlorine pesticides are more in tanks followed by shallow wells and deep wells. However, the residual levels of pesticides were found well below the maximum acceptable level of 100 ng/L for individual pesticides for drinking purpose in the study area. Though the residual levels of pesticides in the study area were well below the acute toxicological problems, the major concern is for long term, chronic exposure from compounds that may be carcinogenic.

Organochlorine insecticide residues in Ganga River water near Farrukhabad, India

Article

Apr 1994
ENVIRON MONIT ASSESS

Multiple residues of organochlorine insecticides were monitored in Ganga river water in the district of Farrukhabad in northern Indian for one year (1991-1992). Almost all the samples were found to be contaminated with residues of HCH and DDT. Residues of aldrin, endosulfan and heptachlor were also detected in a larger number of samples. Alpha-HCH, pp'-DDT and alpha-endosulfan were found to dominate over the other isomers of HCH, DDT and endosulfan, respectively. Enhanced percentage of beta-HCH suggests accumulation of this isomer in the aquatic environment. The average concentration of aldrin was more than that of dieldrin. Aldrin residues often exceeded the WHO guideline value for drinking water and the concentration of heptachlor occasionally exceeded the specified limits.

Pesticide Contamination of Groundwater in the Mahantango Creek Watershed

Article

Jan 1988

Waters from 20 wells in a primarily agricultural Pennsylvania watershed were analyzed for the most heavily and extensively applied pesticides as determined by farm survey. Those analyzed were atrazine, metolachlor, cyanazine, alachlor, terbufos, chlorpyrifos, fonofos, and carbofuran. No metolachlor, alachlor, terbufos, chlorpyrifos, fonofos, or carbofuran were detected. However, atrazine concentrations ranging from 13 to 1110 ng/L were found in 14 of the 20 wells. These findings suggest widespread atrazine contamination of the groundwaters, but at extremely low concentrations. Cyanazine was found above trace concentrations in one well. Although there was only one record of application, simazine was found in seven wells within the range of 10 to 170 ng/L. The degree and spatial distribution of atrazine contamination depended mostly on the frequency and distribution of corn production. The highest atrazine concentrations were associated mostly with continuous corn production. Aquifer rock type, depth to water table, and the degree of recharge short-circuiting estimated from PO4 contamination of groundwater, were concluded not to be important factors. Generally, Cl provided a better index of atrazine contamination than did NO3 because extensive denitrification occurred in several wells. The probability of atrazine being found above the minimum detection limit was high when Cl exceeded 3 mg/L or NO3-N exceeded 4 mg/L.

Controlling toxic chemicals

Article

Jan 1988

S. Postel

The use of pesticides in agriculture and the disposal of industrial chemical wastes constitute two major pathways by which people are inadvertently exposed to toxics. These practices release hundreds of millions of tons of potentially hazardous substances into the environment each year. In many ways the situation with industrial chemical waste parallels the predicament with pesticides: Not only are current practices contaminating the environment and creating health risks, but they are unsustainable over the long term. Strategies that reduce pesticide use in agriculture and minimize waste generation in industry offer cost-effective approaches to decreasing risks from toxics. Such strategies differ fundamentally from current practice and require new ways of thinking. The quick fixes of pesticide spraying and end-of-pipe pollution control are replaced with new production systems aimed at reconciling economic profits with environmental protection. Current efforts in integrated pest management and industrial waste reduction, although clearly promising, only hint at their long-term potential for detoxifying the environment.

Pesticide contamination of private well water, a growing rural health concern

Article

Dec 1992
ENVIRON INT

The Iowa Statewide Rural Well Water Survey (SWRL) was conducted between April 1988 and June 1989. SWRL was designed to provide a statistically valid assessment of the proportion of private rural wells and rural Iowa residents affected by various environmental contaminants. The survey was a systematic sample, stratified by rural population density. Approximately 14% of wells had detections of pesticides: 16 pesticide compounds (mostly herbicides) were detected, including 11 parent compounds and 5 environmental metabolites; 16 pesticides (mostly insecticides) were not detected. Atrazine and its metabolites were found in 8% of wells. Multiple residues were detected in all regions of the state. The mean concentrations were generally <1 μg/L. Lifetime Health Advisory Levels (HALs) were exceeded in 1.2% of private, rural wells in Iowa. Detailed evaluations of these sites indicate 25% are caused by point source contamination (spill and back-siphoning), while the majority, 62.5%, appear to be nonpoint sources related to normal agricultural practices. Statistical analyses show significant associations between many water quality parameters tested during SWRL, but the associations are not strong predictors based on state-wide data. By far the most significant factor explaining water quality variations is well depth.

Pesticide Pollution of Groundwater in the Humid United States

Article

Oct 1989
AGR ECOSYST ENVIRON

George R. Hallberg

Since 1980, many studies have begun to look at the occurrence of pesticides in groundwater; these range from controlled field/plot research studies, to simple monitoring of public water supplies to assess the occurrence of pesticides. The compounds most commonly detected are: (1) mobile and/or volatile soil fumigants and nematicides, used on vegetable or specialty crops; (2) commonly used herbicides from the humid corn-belt regions. The fumigants-nematicides have been the most widely looked for compounds. The herbicides commonly detected are also some of the most widely used of all pesticides, but pesticide properties clearly affect how commonly they are detected. In nearly all corn-belt areas, the herbicide atrazine is the most commonly detected compound. A general overview shows that a total of 39 pesticides have been detected in groundwater from 34 states or provinces. This includes occurrences related to commercial point sources (but not manufacturing sites, or detections exclusively referred to commercial sources) as well as nonpoint sources.

Article

Dec 1984
Environ Pollut B Chem Phys

The concentrations of a range of species, related to agricultural chemicals applied to the sugar cane crops, have been determined in the groundwaters of the Burdekin River Delta. Concentrations of γHCH and heptachlor, organic and inorganic mercury, nitrate, nitrite and ammonia, phosphate, sodium, potassium, chloride and fluoride are reported. The concentrations of the various species are discussed in terms of local geographic features, annual rainfall pattern and agricultural chemical usage.

Pesticide contamination of groundwater in Western Europe

Article

Oct 1989
AGR ECOSYST ENVIRON

In recent years, many measurements have been made of residues of pesticides in shallow and deep groundwater in western Europe. Some triazine herbicides and their transformation products have been detected most frequently. The average concentration in measuring series for deep groundwater was usually below 0.1 μg l−1, and the highest values were usually below 0.5 μg l−1. The concentrations of mecoprop in deep groundwater ranged up to 0.6 μg l−1 and those of bentazone to almost 1.0 μg l−1. Some other herbicides were found at comparatively high concentrations and the highest values were found for TBA and TCA in tile-drain water. The soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene was mainly found in shallow groundwater, but its admixture 1,2-dichloropropane was also found in deep groundwater (range up to 10 μg l−1, sometimes even higher). Residues of the nematicides aldicarb and oxamyl have been measured in shallow and intermediate groundwater, but measurements for deep groundwater are still lacking. Some carbamoyl-oximes were incubated in subsoil materials to study their transformation and their rate of transformation in anaerobic subsoils was surprisingly high. The maximum admissible concentration of 0.1 μg l−1 in a Directive of the European Communities of 1980 is the subject of much debate, because a toxicological basis is lacking.

ES Views: Controlling Toxic Chemicals

Article

Jan 1988

Sandra. Postel

Residues of DDT and HCH in major sources of drinking water in Bhopal, India

Article

Oct 1990

The large scale use of organochlorine insecticides (OCIs) in developing countries has caused serious concern due to their persistence in the environment. OCIs are characterized by their stability for long periods which may lead to toxicological implication on the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem (Aruda et al. 1988, Cochieri and Arnese 1988, Sarkar and Sen Gupta 1988). About 55000 tons of pesticides are used in agriculture and public health every year (Sen Gupta and Quasim 1985). Continuous use of pesticides to combat pests of this contamination of water has led to spillage and percolation to subsoil systems and water bodies has been a matter of concern even in the developed countries, in view of their risk to communities consuming polluted drinking water. This is the first report of its kind about the residual presence of major OCIs such as HCH and DDT in different sources of water (Wells, handpumps and ponds) samples in and around Bhopal, india. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total number of sixty water samples from different wells, handpumps and ponds were collected from various locations in and around Bhopal, India for the analysis. Each sample of water in replicates of eight was taken (one liter) in 2L separatory funnel and mixed with 3 x 150mL distilled n-hexane (Spectrochem Pvt. Ltd. Bombay), shaken for 30 rain. The organic phase was separated from aqueous phase. The extraction was carried out successively with 3 x 5OmL n-hexane. The combined extract was concentrated to volume of 10 mL with vaccum rotary evaporator at 50~ dissolved in 25 mL distilled acetonitrile (Spectrochem Pvt.Ltd. Bombay) and washed with (4 % w/v) 450 mL sodium sulphate. It was extracted again with 3 x 25 mL portion of n-hexane. The combined n-hexane extract was concentrated to a volume of 1 mL. Each sample was cleaned up prior to GLC analysis using a neutral two step procedure to eliminate known interfering compounds. The n-hexane extract was applied to a mixed phase prewashed chromatographic column containing 1 x 5 cm bed of anhydrous sodium sulphate at the bottom followed by 1 x t0 cm of activated charcoal (E.Merck India Ltd,) in approximately 600 mg celiite 545 (Fishers Scientific) and eluted with 40 mL 5% benzene/hexane.

Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water of Ahmedabad City, India

Article

Oct 1991

The ubiquitous environmental pollutants organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been extensively studied for their toxicity. Monitoring of OCP and PAH residues has always been considered important for controlling human exposure. As compared to several other countries, the higher body burden of OCP in Indian general population is indicative of higher exposure to these chemicals. Recent studies have shown higher residues of OCP in food commodities including human mother's milk. The levels of OCP in drinking water is still a matter of concern and practically nothing is known about the residues of PAH in drinking water in India. This is the first report of its kind regarding the residues of OCP and PAH in drinking water of Ahmedabad City, the sixth largest city of India with a population of more than 2.5 million.

Infiltration of Organic Pollutants into Groundwater: Field Studies in the Alluvial Aquifer of the Sava River

Article

Nov 1991

Marijan Ahel

Groundwater represents one of the most important sources of potable water for many public water supplies in the world. The benefits of these valuable water reservoirs are being reduced however, due to the increasing infiltration of both inorganic and organic pollutants from different sources such as wastewaters, polluted freshwaters, contaminated soils, sanitary landfills, and industrial dumping sites. Therefore, investigations of pollutant migration and persistence in groundwaters are of great significance for groundwater protection strategies. The study of organic pollutants is perhaps the most complex issue in groundwater pollution chemistry. The extremely high number of possible organic pollutants as well as the severe ecotoxicological effects of specific organic compounds make the assessment of water quality and long term pollution trends in the aquifer very difficult. The application of the computer-assisted high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy in the last decade has extended our knowledge about the occurrence of specific organic pollutants in groundwaters and processes that determine their transport and transformation.

Monitoring Ground Water for Pesticides

Article

Feb 1987

At least 17 pesticides have been found in ground water in a total of 23 states as a result of agricultural practice. These results have been obtained through three different types of monitoring studies: large-scale retrospective, small-scale retrospective, and small-scale prospective. The first two types of studies survey areas where the pesticide(s) in question has already been used. The third type of study is an intensive field study where the pesticide is applied and monitoring begins at time zero. Often, soil core data are at least as important as ground water data. The ability to draw meaningful conclusions from large-scale studies is greatly diminished unless the studies have a statistical, stratified design. The purpose of this paper is threefold: to describe the three study types; suggest guidelines for groundwater sampling, soil sampling and well construction; and update the data summary of pesticides in ground water from agricultural practice.

Pesticides in Ground Water Beneath Irrigated Farmland in Nebraska, August 1978

Article

Oct 1980

During the 1978 irrigation season, 14 ground water samples were collected in the Central Platte region of Nebraska, an area known to have high nitrate-nitrogen (NO3--N) levels, and analyzed for the presence of 13 pesticide residues. Atrazine levels ranged from 0.06 microgram/liter to 3.12 microgram/liter and were correlated to NO3--N concentrations with a coefficient of r = +0.55. Nitrate-nitrogen concentrations were measured as indicators of deep percolation from irrigated lands and ranged from 17.1 mg/liter to 34.3 mg/liter. Alachlor levels ranged from less than 0.01 microgram/liter to 0.71 microgram/liter. The amounts of 2,4-D were indeterminate because of experimental problems. Levels of the herbicides silvex and EPTC were below the limits of detectability. Levels of the organochlorine insecticides endrin, gamma-BHC (lindane), dieldrin, DDT and its primary metabolite DDE, heptachlor and its primary derivative heptachlor epoxide, and methoxychlor were all below the detectable limits of 0.005-0.010 microgram/liter.

Concentrations of Synthetic organic chemicals in leachate from a municipal landfill

Article

Feb 1990
ENVIRON POLLUT

A study on the concentrations of synthetic organic chemicals in leachate from the municipal landfill of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was conducted from June 1987 through March 1989. The primary objective of this study was to provide information on the concentrations of synthetic organics in leachate from a typical municipal landfill. Leachate analyses yielded the presence of a variety of synthetic organic compounds at wide ranges in concentration. These compounds are potentially dangerous to human health.

Pesticide in Groundwater Beneath Irrigated Farmland

Jan 1978
70-73

R E Spalding
G A Junk
J J And Richard

Spalding, R. E, Junk, G. A. and Richard, J. J.: 1989, 'Pesticide in Groundwater Beneath Irrigated Farmland, in Nebraska, August, 1978', Pest. Monit. J. 14, 70-73.

Impacts of pesticides on Ground Water Contamination

R F Carsel
C Smith

Silent Spring Revisited

R F Carsel
C Smith

Evaluation of Pesticides in ground water

Jan 1986
170

S Z Cohen
C Eiden
M N Lorber
S. Z. Cohen

Ground water contamination by organochlorine insecticide residues in a rural area in the Indo-Gangetic plain

Abstract

No full-text available

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