Persistent Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Soil and Surface Water of Northern Indo-Gangetic Alluvial Plains

This study reports the concentration levels and distribution pattern of the organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) residues in the soil and surface water samples collected from the northern Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains. A total of 31 soil and 23 surface water samples were collected from the study region in Unnao district covering an area of 2150 km² and analyzed for aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, HCB, HCH isomers, DDT isomers/metabolites, endosulfan isomers (α and β), endosulfan sulfate, heptachlor and its metabolites, α-chlordane, γ-chlordane and methoxychlor. In both the soil and surface water samples β- and δ-isomers of HCH were detected most frequently, whereas, methoxychlor was the least detected pesticide. The results showed contamination of soil and surface water of the region with several persistent organic pesticides. The total OCPs level ranged from 0.36–104.50 ng g^–1 and 2.63–3.72 μg L^–1 in soil and surface water samples, respectively.     

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

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 μECD. 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.     

Status and effect of pesticide residues in soils under different land uses of Andaman Islands, India

Pesticides are shown to have a great effect on soil organisms, but the effect varies with pesticide group and concentration, and is modified by soil organic carbon content and soil texture. In the humid tropical islands of Andaman, India, no systematic study was carried out on pesticide residues in soils of different land uses. The present study used the modified QuEChERS method for multiresidue extraction from soils and detection with a gas chromatograph. DDT and its various metabolites, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, aldrin, and fenvalerate, were detected from the study area. Among the different pesticide groups detected, endosulfan and DDT accounted for 41.7 % each followed by aldrin (16.7 %) and synthetic pyrethroid (8.3 %). A significantly higher concentration of pesticide residues was detected in rice–vegetable grown in the valley followed by rice–fallow and vegetable–fallow in the coastal plains. Soil microbial biomass carbon is negatively correlated with the total pesticide residues in soils, and it varied from 181.2 to 350.6 mg?kg^?1. Pesticide residues have adversely affected the soil microbial populations, more significantly the bacterial population. The Azotobacter population has decreased to the extent of 51.8 % while actinomycetes were the least affected though accounted for 32 % when compared to the soils with no residue.     

Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) As Monitors for Mercury Contamination of Aquatic Environments

We assessed the distribution of mercury in snapping turtles(Chelydra serpentina) by analyzing front shoulder muscle,back leg muscle, tail muscle, blood, liver, and marginalcarapacial scute (shell) of 26 adult turtles from five smalllakes. Total mercury concentration in muscle ranged from 50 to500 ng g^–1 wet weight and was highly correlated among the threetissue locations. There was no relationship between musclemercury concentration and body size. Mercury concentration inblood was similar to muscle; the correlation with muscle mercuryconcentration was significant but there was some variability. Mercury concentration in shell was much higher than in muscle orblood, ranging from 500 to 3300 ng g^–1, and was highly correlatedwith muscle mercury concentration. Liver mercury concentrationwas similar to shell, but was highly variable and uncorrelatedwith any other tissue. We conclude that snapping turtlesaccumulate mercury from their environment and may be usefulmonitors of mercury contamination.     

Organochlorines and selenium in California night-heron and egret eggs

Exceptionally high concentrations of DDE were found in black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (geometric mean 8.62 g g^–1 wet wt.) and great egret (Casmerodius albus) (24.0 g g^–1) eggs collected from the Imperial Valley (Salton Sea), California in 1985. DDE concentrations in 14 of the 87 (16%) randomly selected night-heron eggs from six colonies (two in San Francisco Bay, three in the San Joaquin Valley, and one at Salton Sea) were higher than those associated with reduced reproductive success of night-herons (8 g g^–1). In addition, mean shell thickness of night-heron eggs collected from the San Joaquin Valley and from San Francisco Bay during 1982–1984 was significantly less than pre-DDT thickness and was negatively correlated (r=–0.50, n=75, P<0.0001) with DDE concentration. Mean selenium concentration in night-heron eggs from Salton Sea (1.10 g g^–1) was significantly higher than in eggs from three locations in the San Joaquin Valley, and in egret eggs from Salton Sea.     

Organochlorine insecticide residues in agricultural soils of the indo-gangetic plain

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.     

Distributions, sources, and ecological risks of DDT-related contaminants in water, suspended particulate matter, and sediments from Haihe Plain, Northern China

The residual levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites (DDXs, including p,p′-DDT, DDD, and DDE) in water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments from major rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in Haihe Plain were measured with a gas chromatograph equipped with a ⁶³Ni microelectron capture detector. In the fall of 2004, the contents of the total DDXs in the water and SPM were 0.29?±?0.69 ng L^?1 and 423.13?±?577.85 ng g^?1 dry wt., respectively. In the spring of 2005, the total DDXs were 0.36?±?0.91 ng L^?1 for water and 35.93?±?62.65 ng g^?1 dry wt. for SPM. The average concentration of DDXs for sediments was 7.10?±?7.57 ng g^?1 dry wt. during the two seasons. The Eastern-Hebei-Province Coastland River System was the most polluted, which was mainly attributable to the extensive use of DDT pesticide and dicofol in that system. Recent DDT inputs still occur in some regions, as indicated by DDT/(DDD + DDE) > 1 at 29–36 % of the sites for water and 55–61 % of the sites for SPM. The potential ecological risks of DDT in the water were assessed using a species sensitivity distribution model. Only shrimp and crabs were found to have potentially affected fraction values of 1.63?×?10^?3 to 2.27?×?10^?4, with probabilities beyond the hazardous concentration for 5 % of species (HC5) values of 1.90–2.56 %, suggesting only slight risks. DDXs in the sediments of some sites were also of potential risk to benthic organism based on consensus-based sediment quality guidelines.     

Levels and distribution of persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in water and sediments of Gomti River (India)—a tributary of the Ganges River

This study reports the concentration levels and distribution pattern of the persistent organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) residues in the water and bed-sediments of the Gomti River collected seasonally over a period of 2 years. The water and bed-sediment samples were collected from eight different sites and analyzed for aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, HCB, HCH isomers, DDT isomers/metabolites, endosulfan isomers (alpha and beta), endosulfan sulfate, heptachlor and its metabolites, alpha-chlordane, gamma-chlordane and methoxychlor. In the river water and sediments SigmaOCPs residues ranged between 2.16 and 567.49 ng l(-1) and 0.92 and 813.59 ng g(-1), respectively. The results, further, suggested that source of DDT contamination is from the aged and weathered agricultural soils with signature of recently used DDT in the river catchments. To assess any adverse effect of OCPs contamination on river's biological component, the threshold effect level (TEL) was used. The results revealed that bed-sediments of the Gomti River are contaminated with lindane, endrin, heptachlor epoxides and DDT, particularly at site-4 and may contribute to sediment toxicity in the freshwater ecosystem of the river.     

A Survey of Trace Metals in Vegetation, Soil and Lower Animal Along Some Selected Major Roads in Metropolitan City of Lagos

The concentration of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in a total of 144 samples of grass, soil and lower animal (earthworm, Lybrodrilus violaceous) were collected and analysed for their metallic content. Levels of cadmium ranged from 0.01–0.07 g g^–1; 0.01–0.12 g g^–1 and from trace–0.05 g g^–1 dry weight for plant, soil and animal samples respectively. Mean concentration of copper ranged 0.10–1.48 g g^–1; 0.10–2.90 g g^–1 and 0.01–0.08 g g^–1 for samples in similar order as above. The levels of Pb varied from 0.01–0.14 g g^–1; 0.02–0.23 g g^–1 and from trace–0.07 g g^–1 while that of Zn ranged from 0.19–1.80 g g^–1; 0.51–3.35 g g^–1and 0.01–0.08 g g^–1 also in the same order of samples as mentioned above. Levels of metals in soil samples were higher than the background levels with the exception of Zn but lower than European Union (EU) limits. The results generally revealed the presence of metals in plant and animal samples and metal dynamics up the food chain is highly possible. Acceptable recoveries of the spiking experiment validate the experimental protocol.     

Status of insecticide contamination of soil and water in Haryana, India

Twelve samples each of soil and ground water were collected from paddy-wheat, paddy-cotton, sugarcane fields and tube wells from same or near by fields around Hisar, Haryana, India during 2002–2003 to monitor pesticide residues. Residues were estimated by GC-ECD and GC-NPD systems equipped with capillary columns for organochlorine, synthetic pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides. In soil, HCH (0.002–0.051 μg g⁻¹), DDT (0.001–0.066 μg g⁻¹), endosulfan (0.002–0.039 μg g⁻¹) and chlordane (0.0002–0.019 μg g⁻¹) among organochlorines, cypermethrin (0.001–0.035 μg g⁻¹) and fenvalerate (0.001–0.022 μg g⁻¹) among synthetic pyrethroids and chlorpyriphos (0.002–0.172 μg g⁻¹), malathion (0.002–0.008 μg g⁻¹), quinalphos (0.001–0.010 μg g⁻¹) among organophosphates were detected. Dominant contaminants were DDT, cypermethrin and chlorpyriphos from the respective groups. In water samples, HCH, DDT, endosulfan and cypermethrin residues were observed frequently. Only chlorpyriphos among organophosphates was detected in 10 samples. On consideration of tube well water for drinking purpose, about 80% samples were found to contain residues above the regulatory limits.     

Depositional profiles and relationships between organotin compounds in freshwater and estuarine sediment cores

A range of organotin compounds including tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) were measured in sediment cores collected from contaminated freshwater and estuarine sites in Essex and Suffolk, U.K. Butyltin compounds were found in significant quantities at depths of up to 60 cm within the sediments of marina and boatyard complexes with TBT concentrations ranging from <3 ng g^–1 (the detection limit) to >3000 ng g^–1. In general sediment TBT concentrations decreased with depth, but maximum enrichment tended to occur just below the surface. It was evident from these core profiles that the accumulation of organotins in surface deposits was on the decline and coincided approximately, with the implementation in 1987 of the UK retail ban on the sale of TBT based antifouling paints for application on vessels <25 m in length. The degradation rate for TBT in sediments was found to exhibit first order kinetics with half lives ranging from 0.9–5.2 years between different sites. Estimated degradation rates have also been determined for DBT and MBT. These ranged from 1.5–3.0 years for DBT and 1.8–3.7 years for MBT.     

Instability in a small hypereutrophic urban lake

Two summer intensive monitoring programs were conducted on a small Louisiana urban lake following restoration. Monitoring objectives were directed towards providing high resolution data needed to examine lake temporal and spatial variability. During the first year of post-restoration (1983), anaerobic conditions developed in the lake and a major fish kill (Ictalurus sp.) was observed. Total phosphorus concentrations at stations nearest the lake bottom were exceedingly high (>0.400 mg L^–1), suggesting the source of phosphorus was sediment release. Monitoring conducted in 1984 indicated the re-establishment of high benthic demand and internal nutrient recycling patterns. Mean phosphorus levels increased by more than 50% over the observed 1983 values, while dissolved oxygen concentrations demonstrated gradients from surface to bottom and were consistently below 2.0 mg L^–1 in the bottom waters.     

Bioindicator organisms: Heavy metal pollution evaluation in the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea—Italy)

Trace metal concentrations of mercury, cadmium, lead and chromium in Patella caerulea, and Mullus barbatus were investigated to provide information on pollution of Ionian Sea, since these metals have the highest toxic potential. High chromium levels (0.47–0.97 g g^–1 ww) were registered in limpet samples collected from two station near the Gulf of Taranto, while elevated concentration of mercury (0.31–1.50 g g^–1 ww) were found in mullet specimens from Sicily. The metal concentrations recorded at the clean stations may be considered as useful background levels to which to refer for comparison within the Mediterranean area. On the contrary, the high levels of chromium and mercury found respectively in the areas near the Gulf of Taranto and at Capo Passero being of concern in terms of environmental health need frequent monitoring.     

Emissions of NO and N2O from soils

Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes were measured from agricultural, forest and moorland environments, using chamber techniques. Maximum emissions of NO and N₂O were measured from the agricultural soils shortly after fertiliser application (7 ng NO-N m^–2 s^–1 and 91 ng N₂O-N m^–2 s^–1). For the non-agricultural soils the NO flux ranged from –0.3 to 0.5 ng NO-N m^–2 s^–1 and the N₂O flux ranged from 1 to 2.7 ng N₂O-N m^–2 s^–1. Emissions, however, were increased 2 to 7 fold when N deposition (uplands) and N fixation (alder plantations) contributed to the pool of soil available N. The best predictors of the NO emission were soil NO ₃ ^– and soil temperature, accounting for 60% of the variability observed. The prediction of N₂O was less successful. Only 30% of the variability could be explained by the soil NO ₃ ^– and the soil moisture content, soil temperature did not have a significant effect on the N₂O emission.     

Pesticide Contamination of Jamaican Environment. II. Insecticide Residues in the Rivers and Shrimps of Rio Cobre Basin, 1982–1996

Only organochlorine (OC) residues were monitored by gas chromatographyin water, sediment and shrimp samples collected everymonth between July 1982 and August 1983 from therivers of Rio Cobre basin. In samples collected everyfour months during 1989–1990, and seven times duringJuly 1995–March 1996, OC and OP (organophosphates)residues were monitored. Carbamate and pyrethroidresidues were not monitored. The detection ofresidues in 1982–1983 was 54 to 100% in water andsediment, and 83 to 100% in shrimp samples fromvarious sampling stations in the four rivers. In otheryears, it ranged from about 40 to 100% in the threetypes of samples.In 1982–1983, DDE and dieldrin residues were found tobe much higher than those of lindane and - and-endosulfan in Black River, Rio Pedro, ThomasRiver and Rio Cobre in the watershed. The ranges ofmeans of each residue in water (g L^-1), sediment(ng g^-1) and shrimp (ng g^-1) samples, respectively, were:DDE, 0.059–102.0, 3.44–13.97, 0.344–14.57;dieldrin, 0.026–173.6, 1.21–2.75, 0.427–5.59;-endosulfan, bdl, 1.75–4.00, bdl;-endosulfan, bdl (below detectable limits), 2.51–9.48, bdl;and lindane, (bdl), 0.110–0.319, 2.90.In 1989–1990 and 1995–1996, residues of six OCs and two OPs were detected quite regularly. DDE, dieldrinand Chlorpyrifos residues were much higher than thoseof the other insecticides. The range of their meansin water (g L^-1), sediment and shrimp (ng g^-1),respectively, were: DDE, 1.66–19.76, 0.941–5.84,1.11–8.32; dieldrin, 0.077–7.22, 0.425–3.31,0.385–1.59; -endosulfan, 0.034–1.25, 0.021–1.22, 0.032–3.62; -endosulfan, 0.665–1.23,0.008–3.60, 0.005–3.97; endosulfan sulphate, 0.959–1.34, 0.035–3.08, 0.012–1.80; lindane, bdl,0.005–0.82, 1.19–1.56; chlorpyrifos, 0.702–4.06,0.005–1.51, 0.156–7.04; and diazinon, bdl, 0–0.150, 0.001–0.006. At the mouth of the river, whereit discharges into the sea, the levels of almost allthe residues were higher than upstream.     

Organochlorine pesticide residues in Songkla Lake

The water quality of Songkla Lake for organochlorine (OC) pesticide contamination was studied from chosen sampling sites (stations) using the lakes geographic data and pollution sources. The water samples were collected monthly from 13 stations in Songkla Lake during September 1991–November 1992. The OC pesticide residues found were Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, DDD, DDE, DDT and Aldrin in the range 0–0.5690 ppm. This study showed that DDT and its metabolite products (DDD and DDE) dominated OC pesticide residues in the lake. The concentration of OC residues also depended on the season, i.e. at some sampling stations the concentration of OC residues in the dry season (July–September) were higher than in the wet season (October–January).     

Long term monitoring of pollutants in eggs of Yellow-legged Herring Gull from Capraia island (Tuscan Archipelago)

Chlorinated hydrocarbons (hexachlorobenzene, lindane, ppDDE, polychlorinated biphenyls) and trace elements (Hg, Se, Cd, Pb) were determined in eggs of Yellow-legged Herring Gull (Larus cachinnans) collected in an island of the Tyrrhenian Sea during the period 1981–1986. PCBs levels vary on the average between 30.4g g^–1 d.w. in 1981 to 56.1 g g^–1 d.w. in 1983. The capillary chromatograms revealed the presence of about 30 somers of PCBs without significant variations in the eggs of the same year; more than 50% of the residues is made up only three isomers: the 22'44'55', the 22'344'5' and the 22'344'55'. Average DDE residues were 7–8 times lower than those of PCBs and declined during the period (from 9.2 g g^–1 d.w. in 1981 to 4.5 g g^–1 d.w. in 1986). Cadmium and lead are present in low concentrations. The average levels of mercury and selenium are around 2–2.5 g g^–1 d.w., and a cumulative correlation, on a molar basis, exists between these two elements.     

Distribution of heavy metals in plants and fish of the Yamuna river (India)

The distribution of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the plants and fish of Yamuna river from Delhi to Allahabad, a distance of about 840 km, at five sampling stations was determined in the year 1981. The results have shown wide variations in the heavy metal levels from one sampling station to the other. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the plants (Eicchornia crassipes) were found to be 0.02–0.12, 2.7–21.3, 4.6–64.8, 9.8–114.0, 193.0–1835.0, 380.0–1443.0, 4.4–83.0, 4.8–30.2, and 22.1–356.5 g g^-1 respectively whereas in the fish (Heteropnuestes fossilis) were found to be ND-0.40, 2.3–13.7, 3.7–26.9, 8.33–58.1, 278.3–1108.0, 81.3–213.8, 2.8–32.7, 1.4–12.8 and 101.8–364.8 gg^-1 respectively on dry weight basis.     

Concentrations of Cadmium, Mercury and Selenium in Blood, Liver and Kidney of Common Eider Ducks from the Canadian Arctic

We determined concentrations of selected trace elements inlivers, kidneys and blood samples from common eiders (Somateria mollissima borealis) from the eastern Canadianarctic during 1997 and 1998. Concentrations of totalmercury and organic mercury were generally low in the liversof these birds (less than 6 and 4 g g^–1 dry wt,respectively). Selenium ranged between 11–47 g g^–1 inlivers. Renal cadmium concentrations were among the highestever published for this species (range: 47–281 g g^–1). The regressions of log-transformed concentrations ofthese trace elements in blood samples on those in liver orkidney were significant (all P-values < 0.05) andpositive. However, except for organic mercury (RM ² = 0.83), the co-efficients of determination were low tomoderate (range of R ²: 0.26–0.52), suggesting poorto moderate predictive capability. Furthermore, therelationships between total mercury in blood and liverchanged between 1997 and 1998, suggesting that it would notbe possible to predict consistently, concentrations ofmercury in blood from those in liver based on samples takenin one year. Blood samples can be used to determineconcentrations of these trace elements in common eiders (andprobably other sea duck species as well). The use of bloodsamples is especially warranted when it is undesirable tokill the animal such as when working with rare or endangeredsea duck species or when the objective is to relate traceelement exposure to annual survival rates. However, thepredictive equations developed here should not be used topredict expected concentrations in one type of tissue fromthose in the other.     

Distribution of heavy metals in Penaeus Semisulcatus from Persian Gulf and possible role of metallothionein in their redistribution during storage

The study was conducted between January and December 2002. The main objective of this study was evaluation of effects of refrigerated storage duration on redistribution of three trace elements (Cd, Cu and Zn) in tissues (exoskeleton, abdominal muscle and hepatopancreas) of a shrimp species (Penaeus semisulcatus). Moreover, the possible roles of metallothionein (a kind of metalloprotein) in redistribution of the elements in tissues of the selected species were assessed. The specimens were sampled from northwestern part of the Persian Gulf. The concentrations of metals in the tissues were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). Metallothionein levels were determined by Differential Pulse Polarography (DPP) method. pH of the muscle samples was also measured in different stages. Different statistical methods were used for interpretation of the results. There were no size-dependent differences in metal contents of the species. The results were compared with specimens from other areas of the world and existing guidelines and limits. Concentrations of the metals in the muscle (0.103, 3.418 and 8.977 µg g^–1 wet weight in the case of Cd, Cu and Zn, respectively) samples were below the most guidelines for human consumption. The results were in general agreement with those obtained by some other researchers. There were highly significant differences between sexes in Zn and Cu contents. Levels of Zn in females were significantly higher than males. The reverse case observed for Cu. The highest mean Cu and Zn concentrations (15.939 and 43.394 µg g^–1 wet weight, respectively) were found in hepatopancreas samples, but the highest level of Cd (0.790 µg g^–1 wet weight) was observed in exoskeleton. There were significant differences between the fresh and refrigerated samples from accumulation of Cd and Zn in tissues point of view, which can be attributed to the metal binding properties of metallothioneins as well as their degradation during the storage.