Pesticide concentration in water and sediment of River Ganga at

Transcription

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 3, No 1, 2012
© Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0
Research article
ISSN 0976 – 4402
Pesticide concentration in water and sediment of River Ganga at selected
sites in middle Ganga plain
Singh Leena1, Choudhary S. K2, Singh P. K3
1- Department of Chemistry, Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology, Greater
Noida, U.P., India
2- Department of Botany T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India
3- Department of Chemistry, K.M. College, Delhi University, Delhi, India
[email protected]
doi:10.6088/ijes.2012030131026
ABSTRACT
This study reports the concentration levels and distribution pattern of the persistent pesticides
residues in water and bed sediments of the Ganga river at Bhagalpur stretch collected
seasonally over a period of 2 years. The water and bed sediment were collected from three
different sites (upstream, midstream and down stream) and analyzed for their pesticide profile.
The study has shown the presence of both organochlorine and organophosphorous pesticides
in the water and sediment of River Ganga at Bhagalpur. We used Liquid-liquid extraction
followed by GC-ECD for the determination of these compounds. Among the various
pesticides analyzed, high concentration of Methyl parathion, Endosulfan and DDT were
observed both in water and sediment samples of the river. The concentration of DDT in
sediment was quite high which might be due to slow degradation of DDT in soil i.e. 75 –
100% in 4-30 years. The present study was first attempt to identify and quantify some
selected pesticides in water and sediment of the river Ganga at Bhagalpur, and may be
important as the Bhagalpur city gets its water supply from the river for drinking purposes.
Keywords: Ganga, bhagalpur, organochlorine, organophosphorous, pesticides, water,
sediment.
1. Introduction
Several hundred pesticides of different chemical nature are currently used for agricultural
purposes all over the world. Because of their widespread use, they are detected in various
environmental matrices, such as soil, water and air. Pesticides are divided in to many classes,
of which the most important are organochlorine and organophosphorous compounds.
Organochlorine pesticides are known to resist biodegradation and therefore they can be
concentrated through food chains and produce a significant magnification of the original
concentration at the end of the chain. It has been cited that the degradation of DDT in soil is
75-100% in 4-30 years. Due to long residence time of these substances in the environment,
there is a great interest in examining the pollution they cause. Oraganophosphorous pesticides,
on the other hand, are known to degrade rapidly depending on their formulation method of
application, climate and the growing stage of the plant.
The general progression of pesticide development has moved from highly toxic, persistent
and bio-accumulating pesticides such as DDT, to pesticides that degrade rapidly in the
environment and are less toxic to non-target organisms. The developed countries have banned
many of the older pesticides due to potential toxic effect to man and\or their impact on
Received on March 2012 Published on July 2012
260
Pesticide concentration in water and sediment of River Ganga at selected sites in middle Ganga plain
ecosystems, in favour of more pesticide formulations. In the developing countries, however,
organochlorine pesticides still remain the cheapest to produce and, for some purposes, remain
highly effective. Developing countries maintain that they cannot afford, for reason of cost or
efficacy, to ban certain older pesticides. The dilemma of cost/efficacy, versus ecological
impacts, including long range transport, and access to modern pesticides formulations at low
cost remains a contentious global issue. Pesticides like DDT and HCH were used extensively
in India till recently both for agricultural and sanitary purposes. It is estimated that about
25000 MT of chlorinated pesticides were used annually in India and DDT accounted for 40%
of this group (Mathur, 1993).
Pesticide residues reach the aquatic environment through direct runoff, leaching, and careless
disposal of empty container, equipment washing etc. (Milindis, 1994). Surface water
contamination may have ecotoxicological effects for aquatic flora and fauna as well as for
human health if used for public consumption (Forney and Davis, 1981; Leonard, 1988;
Miyamoto et.al, 1990; Mulla and Mian, 1981). Sediments are ecologically important
components of the aquatic habitat, which play a significant role in maintaining the trophic
status of any water body (Singh et.al, 1997). Highly polluted sediments are adversely
affecting the ecological functioning of rivers due to persistence in the environment and longrange transport (Singh et.al, 2002). In India, the concentration of these pesticides have been
detected in almost all segments of environment due to their extensive use in past, which have
shown potential to biomagnified/accumulate in animal tissue, human blood, adipose tissue
and breast milk (Beg et.al, 1989). Since the pesticides are lipid soluble in nature, cumulative
accumulation of low concentration of these in the body fat of mammals might pose potential
hazards in long run (Metcaf, 1997).
In India, River Ganges originates from the source glacier Gangotri in northern India
extending to a length of 2525 Km and basin area over 1 million Km2 and is considered as the
sacred river of India. River Ganges alone sustains 114 cities in basin populated by over 400
million people. River Ganges, once valued for her absolute purity, has become a site for
environment catastrophe in last hundred years. Poor sanitation untreated urban sewage,
improper waste management by industries and disposal of solid corpses along its banks have
led to severe environmental stress. Nearly, all sewage from these populations goes directly in
to the river, totaling over 1.3 billion liters a day. Further 260 million liters of industrial wastes,
runoff from 6 million tons of fertilizers and 9000 tons of pesticides used in agriculture within
the basin enters in to the river (Singh et.al, 2004). The government has released effort like
Ganga Action Plan to protect the Ganges environment, and there are few reports regarding
the residue analysis of conservative pesticides in biota from marine environment (Kannan and
Sen Gupta, 1987; Shailaja and Nair, 1997; Shailaja and Singbal, 1994; Ramesh et.al, 1990;
Rajendran et.al, 1992). However no information is available on the levels of various
pesticides residues in water and sediment of river Ganga at Bhagalpur stretch in Bihar.
The city of Bhagalpur (85°59’E longitude and 25°15’N latitude) is located on the southern
bank of river Ganga with an elevation of 172 feet from the mean sea level. Bhagalpur, the
silk city, receive about 5 mega gallons of untreated waste water per day including effluents
from urban settlement, dying industry, leather shoes and slippers manufacturing units,
hospital and pathological laboratories etc. Besides, most of the residents in the neighboring
villages of Bhagalpur city are farmers and their livelihood depends on their agricultural
produce.
Singh Leena, Choudhary S. K, Singh P. K
International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 3 No.1, 2012
261
The objective of research was to carry out a systemic study on identification and
quantification of selected pesticides residues in both water and sediment of river Ganga. The
results obtained from this study are presented in this paper.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Study area
The study area included the gangetic stretch in Bhagalpur starting from Champanala
Nathnagar to Burning ghat Barari. (Figure 1 and 2).
Figure 1: Satellite imagery of river Ganga in Nathnagar-Bhagalpur stretch (Bihar)
Figure 2: Research sites along the southern bank of river Ganga, and its tributary
River Jamania
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A total of three sampling locations were selected on the Southern bank of Jamania river
channel and Ganga depending upon the presumed water quality and extent of pollution. They
were Champanala (site I, upstream), Mond ghat (site II, midstream) and Burning ghat (Site
III, downstream).
2.2. Sample collection
The water as well as soil of the river was collected in sterilized plastic container. Duplicate
samples for pesticide measurement were collected from each sampling location. The
containers were carefully filled just to overflowing, without passing air bubbles through
sample or trapping air bubbles in sealed container. Preparation of the containers included
washing with detergent rinsing with tap water and air-drying. The collected samples were
preserved in an icebox and transported to laboratory as early as possible for analysis. After
transportation to the laboratory, samples were stored at -20°C and extraction was normally
done within 48 hours. Sampling was carried out for two years on seasonal basis for the period
of January 2007 to December 2008.Samples were analyzed in Pesticide and Toxicology
Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Delhi University, Delhi.
2.3. Chemicals and instrumentation
The solvents used for extraction i.e. diethyl ether and hexane were obtained from Merck.
Standards of insecticides and their metabolites of 99 percent purity were obtained from
Aldrich Chemicals Germany.
GC- ECD Condition
The pesticide residues were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) supported by electron
capture detector (ECD). The laboratory used Varian GLC with ECD Model No. 6800.
Nitrogen was used as the carrier gas and makeup gas and the injection technique was in the
split mode .The GC conditions used are furnished in Table 1. The retention times obtained for
the various pesticides residues are given in Table 2 and Figure 3.
Table 1: Column specification and operating condition of Gas Chromatograph
Detector
Column specification
Injection port temperature
Detector temperature
Column Programming
Carrier gas
Split ratio
Carrier gas flow rate
Back up flow
Injection volume
Electron Capture Detector (ECD)
30m x 0.25m x 0.25µ
Cpsil – 5 – CB
280oC
300oC
170oC hold for 2 min @ 3oC/min
210oC hold for 0 min @ 30oC/min
270oC hold for 2 min
Total retention time 20.33 min
N2 flow
9:1
2 ml/min
27 ml/min
2 µl
Total volume of sample
Water – 2 ml.
Soil – 5 ml.
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Table 2: Retention Time for the pesticides analyzed by the Gas Chromatograph
Pesticides
Retention Time (R.T) (in min.)
1
Lindane
3.53
2
Methyl-Parathion
4.64
3
-Endosulfan
8.77
4
-Endosulfan
10.57
5
o, p’ - DDT
11.72
6
p, p’ - DDT
13.18
Figure 3: Chromatogram showing retention time for six different Pesticides (Organochlorine
and Organophosphate)
Analytical procedure
Liquid-liquid extraction followed by gas chromatographic detector (APHA, 2005) and
(USEPA, 1989) with some modification was used for the determination of pesticide residues.
1 liter of water sample was filtered using 0.45-µm whatman glass fiber filter paper (washed in
acetone and dried in oven overnight). To this 50 ml of phosphate buffer was added and pH
was maintained to 7. Now mixture of diethyl ether and hexane in the ratio of 1:1 was taken in
a 2 liter separating funnel, and 1 liter of water sample mixed with phosphate buffer was
added to it and was shaked vigorously. The layers were allowed to settle down and pass
through separating funnel and collected. The extraction was repeated thrice and the solution
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obtained was filtered with a pinch of sodium sulfate. The combined extract were filtered and
concentrated in a vacuorotary evaporator. The solution thus obtained was filtered with a
pinch of sodium sulphate and made up to 5 ml with hexane.
The soil sample was air dried then ground with pestle-mortar and sieved through 20-mesh
sieve. About 15 gm of soil was taken and 20 ml of hexane washed water was added and kept
for 30 min. to allow the samples to swell in water. The sample was extracted with 150 ml of
acetone for 1 hour on a mechanical shaker. The combined supernatant was transferred in to a
separatory funnel containing 200 ml of hexane and 700 ml of hexane washed water, and the
funnel was thoroughly shaken. The extract was collected from water and passed through
anhydrous sodium sulphate and concentrated in rotary evaporator the extract was filtered and
made up to 5 ml with hexane. The sample (both water and sediment) thus prepared was
injected and analyzed. The pesticides standards (99.9%) purity was supplied from Aldrich
Chemicals Germany. Using standard samples containing known amounts of pesticides,
accuracy of the determinations was routinely checked. All analysis were carried out in
duplicate and recoveries of individual pesticides were determined through spiked sample
method, which were found between 98-99.5%.Recovery correction factors were applied to
the final results. The results obtained for the various water and sediment samples are
presented in tables 3 to 4 and figure 4 and 5.
Table 3: Seasonal Pesticides Concentration in Ganga river water at Champanala (Site I),
Mond ghat (Site II) and Burning ghat (Site III) at Bhagalpur
Sites
Sites
I
Sites
II
Sites
III
Seasons
Lindane
Methyl
Parathion
α-Endo
sulfan
β-Endo
sulfan
Summer
BDL
ND
168.09
Monsoon
BDL
ND
Winter
BDL
Summer
o,p’DDT
p,p’DDT
T-DDT
ND
TEndo
Sulfan
168.09
ND
ND
ND
BDL
BDL
BDL
78.22
ND
78.22
ND
108.02
BDL
108.02
56.78
ND
56.78
BDL
ND
130
ND
130
ND
ND
ND
Monsoon
ND
ND
BDL
BDL
BDL
489.00
ND
489.0
Winter
ND
ND
140.08
BDL
140.08
489.00
ND
489.0
Summer
BDL
ND
BDL
125.09
125.09
ND
ND
ND
Monsoon
74.04
ND
512.11
BDL
BDL
ND
ND
ND
Winter
BDL
ND
208.09
ND
208.09
ND
ND
ND
Summer
ND
ND
BDL
157.30
157.30
ND
ND
ND
Monsoon
48.30
ND
739
ND
739
ND
ND
ND
Winter
BDL
ND
739
ND
739
ND
ND
ND
Summer
BDL
ND
145
ND
145
ND
ND
145
Monsoon
ND
ND
BDL
BDL
BDL
100.0
112.0
212.0
Winter
ND
ND
129.08
BDL
129.08
125.0
BDL
125
Summer
BDL
ND
BDL
BDL
BDL
ND
ND
ND
Monsoon
BDL
ND
BDL
BDL
BDL
BDL
ND
ND
Winter
BDL
ND
BDL
BDL
BDL
BDL
ND
ND
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BDL = Below detection limit, ND = Not detected, Detectable limit: Lindane = 1.00, Me.
Parathion = 10.00, α-Endosulfan and β-Endosulfan = 10.00, o, p’-DDT and p, p’-DDT = 1.00.
All values in nanogram/ litre = ngl-1(Analysis done at Pesticide in Toxicology Laboratory,
Dept. of Zoology, Delhi Univ., Delhi, using Varian GLC with ECD, Model No. 6800).
Table 4: Seasonal Pesticides Concentration in Ganga River Sediment at Champanala
(Site I), Mond ghat (Site II) and Burning ghat (Site III) at Bhagalpur
18.97
Methyl
Parathion
360.03
α-Endo
sulfan
48.96
β-Endo
sulfan
139.00
T-Endo
sulfan
187.96
o,p’DDT
BDL
p,p’DDT
32.22
32.22
Monsoon
23.75
163.13
47.76
89.72
137.48
35.15
8.85
44.00
Winter
21.71
181.83
43.10
108.67
151.77
29.19
BDL
29.19
Summer
90.72
458.02
47.03
170.62
217.65
29.60
35.42
65.0
Monsoon
20.38
164.52
41.58
76.12
117.7
ND
264.18
264.18
Winter
19.60
229.42
45.41
108.67
154.08
34.86
16.14
51.0
Summer
58.39
344.49
35.58
43.20
78.78
184.77
85.48
270.25
Monsoon
33.88
440.56
44.93
288.81
333.74
437.83
193.75
631.58
Winter
37.97
328.18
37.82
166.43
204.25
227.82
BDL
227.82
Summer
46.40
372.16
37.09
34.40
73.49
152.20
104.74
256.94
Monsoon
30.90
447.60
44.91
245.23
290.40
535.40
25.52
560.92
Winter
38.53
333.28
38.51
190.73
229.24
241.28
179.24
420.52
Summer
18.89
82.93
35.58
303.09
338.67
N.D
431.42
431.42
Monsoon
44.14
170.51
38.51
43.43
81.94
N.D
501.97
501.97
Winter
28.78
125.13
37.32
264.13
301.45
BDL
187.46
187.46
Summer
25.10
100.56
50.47
274.00
324.47
2324.70
728.39
3053.09
Monsoon
392.60
186.50
44.35
54.82
99.17
3329.30
874.10
420.34
Winter
31.68
133.59
42.70
82.41
125.11
2438.96
664.01
3102.97
Seasons
Lindane
Summer
T-DDT
BDL = Below detection limit, ND = Not detected, Detectable limit: Lindane = 1.00, Me.
Parathion = 10.00, α-Endosulfan and β-Endosulfan = 10.00, o, p’-DDT and p, p’-DDT = 1.00.
All values in nanogram/gram = ng g-1.
(Analysis done at Pesticide in Toxicology Laboratory, Dept. of Zoology, Delhi Univ., Delhi,
using Varian GLC with ECD, Model No. 6800).
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Figure 4: Range of Concentration of Pesticide at Various Sites in Water of River Ganga
Figure 5: Range of Concentration of Pesticide at Various Sites in Sediment of River Ganga
3. Results and discussion
It is well known that most of the applied pesticides are subject to many transport and
conversion products. Thus they do not remain at their target site but often enter aquatic
environment via soil percolation, air drift or surface runoff affecting abundance and diversity
of non-target species producing complex effect on the ecosystems and altering tropics
interactions (Rand et.al, 1995).
The results of the analysis of the water and soil samples from river Ganga at Bhagalpur have
shown the presence of both organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides. The compounds
detected were Lindane, Methyl-parathion, Endosulfan (the isomers alpha and beta
endosulfan), and DDT (the isomers orthopara and para-para DDT).
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Concentration of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides (Lindane, Endosulfan and
its isomers and DDT and its metabolites) in water and sediment of the Ganga river, during
different season of study period are summarized in Table 3 to 4 and Figure 4 & 5. In Ganga
river, no seasonal as well as site trend was observed in the distribution of pesticides. It was
invariably higher at site II in river water and site III in river sediment. Some physicochemical parameters viz. pH has direct influence on the solubility of these pesticides in river
water of Ganga.
The discharge of agro-chemicals from flood plains, agricultural fields through agricultural
run off might have contributed to the elevated pesticide concentration at site II. The increased
concentration of DDT at site III in sediment and water of river might be due to discharge of
medical wastes from JLNM College Hospitals, which is channelized directly in to the river
near Kali Ghat. Hospitals use DDT for public health activities. It has also been reported that
though DDT is banned but is a part of many organochlorine insecticides, which are not
banned. The presence of DDT in high concentration might be attributed to slow degradation
of DDT resulting in environmental persistence (Kim et.al, 2007).
Lindane is an organochlorine also known as BHC and HCH. The solubility of lindane in
water is 10 mgl-1 and reported half-life is of 18 hours. The concentration of lindane in river
water and sediments was low as compared to other pesticides studied. The concentration of
lindane in river water ranged from ND to 74.04 ngl-1, and in river sediment from 18.97 to
392.60 ng g-1. The concentration of lindane in sediment was high as compared to river water.
The findings of the present study for river water is in accordance with the findings of
(Sankaramakrishnan et.al, 2005), (Rehana et.al, 1996) (Sinha et.al, 2001) and (CPCB, 1999 –
2005) and for river sediment it can be compared to the works of (Ghosh et.al, 2000),
(Agnihotri et.al, 1996), (Singh et.al, 2004), (Rajendran et al, 2005) and (CPCB, 1999 – 2005).
WHO classifies lindane as “Moderately Hazardous” pesticide. The USEPA (2005) has
determinated that lindane does not contaminate drinking water in excess of the Agency’s
level of concern. However exposure to large amount of lindane can negatively affect the
nervous system producing a range of symptoms from headaches and dizziness to convulsions
and more rarely death (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 2005). The order
of the concentration of lindane at different sites in river was: site II > site I = site III, where as
in river sediment it was: site III > site II = Site I.
Methyl parathion is an organophosphate and is used extensively in agriculture and pest
control programs. It has a solubility of 24 mgl-1 with a half-life of 10 days to 2 months.
Methyl parathion was absent in Ganga river water during the entire study period. However
higher concentration was reported in river sediments. Its value ranged from 82.93 to 458.02
ng g-1. This might be due to low solubility of these pesticides in water. A survey to the local
market of this area shows that methyl parathion is extensively used in these areas in various
trade names viz. Metacil liquid 50, Folidol, Dhanudol etc. This might be the reason for
presence of high concentration of methyl parathion at site II as there are extensive
agricultural activities on the riverbanks of site II. The present result is in accordance with the
results of (Sankaramakrishnan et.al, 2005), (Rehana et.al, 1996), (Aleem and Malik, 2004)
who reported either absence of methyl parathion in river water or present in very low
concentration. Data are scanty on the distribution of methyl parathion in river sediments;
however few researchers have reported low concentration of methyl parathion in the sediment
of river Ganga. Methyl parathion being an organophosphate is very toxic for mammals as
well as aquatic organisms. In mammals, methyl parathion is a nerve toxin and damages the
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central nervous system where as in fishes it causes deformation. The order of concentration
of methyl parathion in river sediment was: site II > site I > Site III.
Endosulfan is an organochlorine and highly toxic pesticide in EPA toxicity. The solubility of
endosulfan is 0.3 mgl-1 with a half-life of 50 days in soil and 5 weeks in water but β isomer
has longer half-life i.e. 150 days under neutral conditions. Though endosulfan is banned in
many countries but it is extensively used in India, especially in these areas with a trade name
of Endocel excel, Endofil 45, Endum etc. In the present study, T. Endosulfan ranged from
BDL to 739 ngl-1 in river sediments. High concentration of endosulfan was present both in
water as well as in sediment of the river. α- Endosulfan was higher in water, the
concentration varying from BDL to 739 ngl-1 in river water and from 35.5 to 50.47 ng g-1 in
river sediment, whereas β Endosulfan was in the range of ND to 157.30 ngl-1 in river water
and 34.40 to 303.09 ng g-1 in river sediment. The high concentration of α Endosulfan in water
and β Endosulfan in river sediment might be explained as α and β Endosulfan are
conformational isomers and can be interconnected without breaking bonds. T-Endosulfan
was maximum at site II both in water and sediment. This might be due to extensive use of
these pesticides in agricultural activities on the riverbanks of site II, and being an
organochlorine it has also a tendency to accumulate in the river sediments. The findings of
the present study is in accordance with the findings of (Sinha et.al, 2001), (Agnitotri et.al,
1996), (Haldar et.al, 1987), (CPCB, 1999 – 2005) etc in river water, and in river sediment it
can be compared with the findings of (Ghosh et.al, 2000), (Agnihotri et.al, 1996), (Singh et.al,
2000) and (CPCB, 1999 – 2005). A local survey of the market of this area reveals that
endosulfan is extensively used by the farmers of this region, which might be a reason for
presence of endosulfan in such a high concentration. Endosulfan is one of the most toxic
pesticides, responsible for many fatal pesticides poisoning incidents. Endosulfan is a
xenoestrogen an endocrine disruptor, causing reproductive and developmental damage in
animals and humans. It is a neurotoxic in insects and mammals. Endosulfan is highly toxic
for aquatic organisms and has bioaccumulating effect especially in fish. The order of
concentration of T. Endosulfan in river water was: site II > site I > site III where as in river
sediment it was: site II > site III > site I.
DDT is an organochlorine insecticide nearly insoluble in water with a half-life of 2–15 years
and is immobile in most soils. It is a persistent organic pollutant. DDT along with its isomer o,
p’ and p, p’-DDT were present in higher concentration in the sediment of river Ganga.
However, o, p’-DDT concentration was relatively higher than p, p’-DDT in water and
sediments of river Ganga. This might be attributed to easy metabolization of DDT to its
metabolites, which are more stable and persistent than parent molecules of DDT (Bossi et.al,
1992). DDT was present at all the sites in river sediment and at sites I and III in river water
during the study period. Compared to other sites, its value was slightly higher at site I but in a
low concentration. This might be due to its low solubility in water. In the present study, the
T-DDT content ranged from ND to 489 ngl-1 in river water and 29.19 to 4203.4 ng g-1 in
sediment. The concentration of T-DDT in river sediment was maximum at site III, probably
due to affinity of these compounds to particulate matter, river and marine sediments, which is
thought to be the major sinks for them (Doong et.al, 2002). It also indicates about different
sources of contamination as well as slow degradation resulting in environmental persistence
of these compounds (Kim et.al, 2007). The present result, with reference to river water, is in
accordance with the findings of (Rehana et.al, 1996), (Nayak et.al, 1995), (Kole et al: 2005),
(Sinha et.al, 2001), (Ghosh et.al, 2000), (Agnihotri et.al, 1994), (Haldar et.al, and (CPCB,
1999 – 2005). The higher concentration of T-DDT in river sediment is in accordance with the
results of (Agnihotri et.al, 1996), (Singh et.al, 2004) (Ghosh et.al, 2000) and (CPCB, 1999 –
269
2005). The present result indicates that there is predominant use of DDT in the study area,
which as agricultural runoff or surface run off contributes to a heavy load of pesticide
pollution in water as well as in sediment (ISGE, 1990).
DDT and its metabolic products magnify through the food chain and stored mainly in the
body fat. DDT is classified as “moderately toxic” by US National Toxicological Program and
“moderately hazardous” by WHO. DDT is highly toxic to aquatic life especially fishes as it
can bioaccumalate leading to long-term exposure to high concentrations. In human beings,
the higher concentration of DDT leads to neuropsychological and psychiatric symptoms. The
order of concentration of T-DDT obtained in river water was: site I > site III, whereas T-DDT
was either not detected or below detection limit at site II during the study period. In the river
sediment, the order of concentration was: site III > site II > site I.
From the above discussion, it is obvious that the order of the concentration of these pesticides
in water and sediment of river Ganga varied from site to site, and from one location to
another location, with vegetable growing areas having higher concentrations of endosulfan
and lindane (site II), where as location near maize growing areas contaminated with DDT and
its metabolites (site III). At many sites higher concentration of these pesticides were found,
indicating that they may present a hazard for riverine ecosystem. The analysis of the results
revealed that neither temporal, nor spatial distribution pattern was found, perhaps due to the
presence of multiple and aleatory sources. Ganga River receives intermittent inputs of
organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides along with their isomers, which are the main
contributors to the pesticide pollution of the Ganga River. The presence of DDT metabolites
and BHC in the river indicates continuous use of DDT in the catchments. It is noted that
though these pesticides are banned in other countries but DDT and BHC are in restricted use
in India (UNEP, 2003).
Thus we can say that a using pesticide effectively while maintaing water quality presents an
important challenge and is need of the hour. As citizens, we must recognize the significant
role of pesticides in maintaining a high quality of life. We must acknowledge that the
effective production of food and fiber relies on pesticides to control weeds, insects and plant
diseases that interfere with the growth, harvest and marketability of crops, and also
acknowledge the importance of pesticides in controlling pests in our homes, restaurants,
hospitals, parks, ornamental plantings, golf course etc. but at the same time we must be aware
that pesticides application can affect water quality of both surface and ground water sources.
Human and environmental health may be threatened when excessive concentration of
pesticides enters surface or ground water.
4. Conclusions
Thus we can conclude that the Ganga River gets seriously polluted due to discharge of toxic
heavy metals and pesticides from the point and non point sources. As these toxic substances
do not degrade, they remain persistent in the environment, and also have the ability to
bioaccumulate in the food chain, which might pose potential hazards in long run. Although
the toxicity of these elements have been discussed and could itself become a research topic.
The present study was first known analysis of Organochlorine (OCPs) and Organophosphates
(OPPs) pesticides distribution in water and sediments of river Ganga. The water as well as
sediment of river Ganga is polluted by these OCPs and OPPs. A relatively high level of these
compounds was observed in most study areas. Most of the organochlorines pesticides found
in this study were officially banned, but they were still detected in river water as well as
270
sediments in this area. Regular monitoring and strict law enforcement is needed to develop a
strategy to manage the environmental hazards due to these elements and to improve
environmental protection of this area. Further it is also suggested that in the present study
only 4 pesticides along with the isomers of DDT and Endosulfan was selected for the study
but the work of various author on Ganga reveals that there exists a variety of organochlorines
and organophosphate pesticide residue and various other toxic trace metals in the water as
well as sediment of Ganga river, which have potential health risks to drinking water
consumers and organism in Ganga river basin. Further work is needed to determine the
bioaccumulation of these toxic elements in the food web and the associated risks to the
ecosystem and human health.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to Department of Zoology, University of Delhi and ICAR, Pusa road
New Delhi for providing laboratory as well as library facilities. Valuable scientific inputs by
Dr. D.K.Singh and Dr. Irani Mukherjee are gratefully acknowledged.
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Pesticide concentration in water and sediment of River Ganga at

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