Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of pesticide contamination in Akkar groundwater, northern Lebanon

  • Environmental and human health issues related to pesticides: from usage and environmental fate to impact
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

According to its high production and value, Akkar is considered as the second agricultural region in Lebanon. Groundwater constitutes the principal source of water in Akkar including drinking water of local inhabitants in Akkar. As such, the contamination of groundwater by organic pollutants can impact directly the population health. In this study, we evaluated the contamination status of groundwater in this region. Three classes of pesticides including 19 organochlorine (OC) pesticides, 8 organophosphorus (OP) pesticides, and 6 organonitrogen (ON) pesticides were monitored in 15 groundwater samples collected from different villages on the Akkar plain. Samples were extracted by using solid phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed high contamination of Akkar groundwater by OCs with levels that can reach 58.9 μg/L. They were detected in the majority of the sample and represent 95–100% of ∑pesticides. Our results showed the recent use of these molecules with an average level of 0.3 and 0.39 μg/L for ∑HCHs and DDTs, respectively. Their concentrations were higher than those observed in the same region in 2014 and other regions elsewhere. OPs were also detected at high levels and among them, methylparathion was the predominant OP detected (44.6 μg/L). For ONs, lower levels were measured in all samples with a mean value of 5.6 μg/L. As a conclusion of this work, groundwater on the plain of Akkar was remarkably contaminated by the studied pesticides; indefinitely, more efforts should be taken to manage the pesticide use in this region, assess, and reduce their effects on human health. In the future, the application of organic farming can be a great solution to the groundwater contamination problem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aly N, El-Gendy K (2015) Impact of parathion exposure on some biochemical parameters in rabbit as a non target organism. Alexandria Journal of Medicine 51:11–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Awasthi N, Ahuja R, Kuma A (2000) Factors influencing the degradation of soil-applied endosulfan isomers. Soil Biol Biochem 32:1697–1705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baroudi M, Bakkour H, Halwani J, Taha S, El-Osmani R, Mouneimne AH (2012) Determination of pesticide, nitrates and nitrites level in groundwater of Akkar plain in north Lebanon. J Appl Sci Res 8:4663–4667

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhalerao TS, Puranik PR (2007) Biodegradation of organochlorine pesticide, endosulfan, by a fungal soil isolate, Aspergillus niger. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 59:315–321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dabrowski J, Peall S, Reinecke A, Liess M, Schulz R (2002) Runoff-related pesticide input into the Lourens River, South Africa: basic data for exposure assessment and risk mitigation at the catchment scale. Water Air Soil Pollut 135(1–4):265–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dai G, Liu X, Liang G, Han X, Shi L, Cheng D, Gong W (2011) Distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface water and sediments from Baiyangdian Lake in North China. J Environ Sci 23:1640–1649

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DAR-IAURIF (2004) Schéma d’Aménagement du Territoire Libanais, Rapport Final, L0215-RPT-10 REV A 11 de 233)

  • Directive Cadre Européen (1998) On the quality of water intended for human consumption Brussels, Belgium: Council Directive 98: 83

  • El-Osmani R, Net S, Dumoulin D, Baroudi M, Bakkour H, Ouddane B (2014a) Solid phase extraction of organochlorine pesticides residues in groundwater (akkar plain, north Lebanon). International Journal of Environmental Research 8:903–912

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Osmani R, Net S, Dumoulin D, Bigan M, Ouddane B, Baroudi M (2014b) Experimental design approach to the optimization of pesticides extraction from water. Anal Methods 6:6514–6521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eqani SA, Malik RN, Mohammad A (2011) The level and distribution of selected organochlorine pesticides in sediments from River Chenab, Pakistan. Environ Geochem Health 33:33–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Union, Common position (EC) 12767/97 (1997) Adopted by the council on 16 December 1997 with a view to the adoption of council directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption Inter-institutional file 95/0010 (SYN)

  • Fujii Y, Ito Y, Harada KH, Hitomi T, Koizumi A, Haraguchi K (2012) Comparative survey of levels of chlorinated cyclodiene pesticides in breast milk from some cities of China, Korea and Japan. Chemosphere 89:452–457

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hajjar M, Noura J (2011) Occurrence of organochlorine pesticide residues in groundwater and soil from Syrian coastal area. Agric Biol J N Am 2:488–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halwani J, Ouddane B, Baroudi M, Wartel M (1999) Contamination par les nitrates des eaux souterraines de la plaine d’Akkar au Liban du Nord. Cahiers d’études et de recherches francophones/Santé 9:219–223

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hostetler KA, Thurman EM (2000) Determination of chloroacetanilide herbicide metabolites in water using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Sci Total Environ 248:147–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y, Qi S, Zhang J, Tan ZJ, Wang Y, Yuan D (2011) Assessment of organochlorine pesticides contamination in underground rivers in Chongqing, Southwest China. J Geochem Explor 111:47–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang GX, Sum JC, Wang S, Du HY, Zhi BF, Chen HC, Chen X, Jing JH (2008) Elementary research of organochlorine pesticide in groundwater of pearl river delta. Journal of Agro-Environment Science 4:037

    Google Scholar 

  • IARC (2006) World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, overall evaluations of carcinogenicity to humans, list of classifications, vol 1–115 available at http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/latest_classif.php

  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (1979) Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risk of chemicals in humans. Lyon 20:155–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang YJ, Yan J (2010) Effects of land use on hydrochemistry and contamination of karst groundwater from Nandong Underground River System, China. Water Air Soil Pollut 210:123–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones KC, De Voogt P (1999) Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), state of the science. Environ Pollut 100:209–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong DY, Zhu ZL, Shi LL, Shan ZJ, Cai DJ (2004) Effect of pesticides on groundwater under sweet-potato-based cropping systems in northern China. Journal of Agro-Environment Science 23(5):1017–1020

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuranchie-Mensah H, Atiemo SM, Palm LM, Blankson-Arthur S, Tutu AO, Fosu P (2012) Determination of organochlorine pesticide residue in sediment and water from the Densu river basin, Ghana. Chemosphere 86:286–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zhang G, Qi S, Li X, Peng X (2006) Concentrations, enantiomeric compositions, and sources of HCH, DDT and chlordane in soils from the Pearl River Delta, South China. Sci Total Environ 372:215–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li BH, Ren ZY, Chen HH, Cao XJ, Liu F (2007a) Residues of organochlorine pesticides in shallow groundwater of agricultural region in Taihu Basin. Journal of Agro-Environment Science 5(5):1714–1718

    Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Liu F, Qian C, Jiang S, Zhou Z, Pan C (2007b) Determination of organophosphorus pesticides in Lycium barbarum by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. J AOAC Int 90:271–276

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Gan Y, Yang X, Zhou J, Dai J, Xu M (2008) Human health risk of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in edible fish from Huairou Reservoir and Gaobeidian Lake in Beijing, China. Food Chem 109:348–354

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu LH, Shu LC, Chen XH, Oromo T (2010) The hydrologic function and behavior of the Houzhai underground river basin, Guizhou Province, southwestern China. Hydrogeol J 18:509–518

  • Ministry of energy and water (2010) Lebanese government (resolution No. 2, date 09/03/2012)

  • Ministry of environment/UNDP (2011) Climate change vulnerability and adaptation agriculture, Lebanon’s second national communication

  • MoA (2007) Project of agriculture census 2005. Ministry of Agriculture

  • MoE (2001) Lebanon State of Environmental Report. Ministry of Environment

  • Net S, Rabodonirina S, Ben Sghaier R, Dumoulin D, Chbib C, Tlili I, Ouddane B (2015) Distribution of phthalates, pesticides and drug residues in dissolved, particulate and sedimentary phases in freshwater system. Sci Total Environ 521-522:152–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prado G, Bhalli JA, Marcos R (2009) Genotoxicity of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide in human TK6 lymphoblastoid cells. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis 673:87–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu X, Zhu T, Yao B, Hu J, Hu S (2005) Contribution of dicofol to the current DDT pollution in China. Environmental Science & Technology 39:4385–4390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rissato SR, Galhiane MS, Ximenes VF, De Andrade RM, Talamoni JL, Libânio M, De Almeida MV, Apon BM, Cavalari AA (2006) Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in soil and water samples in the Northeastern part of São Paulo State, Brazil. Chemosphere 65:1949–1958

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salem DM, El Sikaily A, El Nemr A (2014) Organochlorines and their risk in marine shellfish collected from the Mediterranean coast, Egypt. The Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 40:93–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sankararamakrishnan N, Sharma AK, Sanghi R (2005) Organochlorine and organophosphorous pesticide residues in ground water and surface waters of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Environ Int 31:113–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh KP, Malik A, Mohan D, Sinha S (2005) Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in alluvial groundwater aquifers of gangetic plains India. Bull Env ContamToxicol 74:162–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2004) Initial actions to be considered on becoming a party of the Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants. United Nations Environment Program, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2007) Drinking water standards and health advisories table. Available at https://www3.epa.gov/region9/water/drinking/files/dwsha_0607.pdf

  • USEPA (2009) National primary drinking water regulations. Available at http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm

  • USEPA (2011) Pesticides industry sales and usage: 2006 and 2007 market estimates. Available at www.epa.gov/opp00001/pestsales/07pestsales/market_estimates2007.pdf

  • Wong MH, Leung AO, Chan JK, Choi MP (2005) A review on the usage of POP pesticides in China, with emphasis on DDT loadings in human milk. Chemosphere 60:740–752

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2011) Agents classified by the IARC monographs, volumes 1–101

  • Yang H, Xue B, Yu P, Zhou S, Liu W (2010) Residues and enantiomeric profiling of organochlorine pesticides in sediments from Yueqing Bay and Sanmen Bay, East China Sea. Chemosphere 80:652–659

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang T, Zhao B, Hou R, Zhang Z, Kinchla AJ, Clark JM, He L (2016) Evaluation of the penetration of multiple classes of pesticides in fresh produce using surface-enhanced Raman scattering mapping. J Food Sci 81:11

  • Zhao YY, Pei YS (2012) Risk evaluation of groundwater pollution by pesticides in China: a short review. Procedia Environmental Sciences 13:1739–1747

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z, Zhang L, Wu J, Fan C (2009) Distribution and bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides in surface sediments and benthic organisms from Taihu Lake, China. Chemosphere 77:1191–1198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng X, Liu X, Liu W, Jiang G, Yang R (2009) Concentrations and source identification of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) in soils from Wolong Natural Reserve. Chin Sci Bull 54:743–751

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou R, Zhu L, Yang K, Chen Y (2006) Distribution of organochlorine pesticides in surface water and sediments from Qiantang River, East China. J Hazard Mater 137:68–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the funding support of the PHC CEDRE Project, CPER CLIMBIO project, and the association AZM & SAADE (Lebanon) which provided a PhD scholarship for Chaza Chbib.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de santé publique section III, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (L.S.E.E), Université Libanaise, Tripoli, Lebanon

    Chbib Chaza, Hamzeh Mariam & Baroudi Moomen

  2. Equipe Physico-Chimie de l’Environnement, LASIR UMR CNRS 8516, Université de Lille, Bâtiment C8, 59655, Villeneuve d’Ascq Cedex, France

    Chbib Chaza, Net Sopheak, Dumoulin David & Ouddane Baghdad

Authors
  1. Chbib Chaza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Net Sopheak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hamzeh Mariam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dumoulin David
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ouddane Baghdad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Baroudi Moomen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Net Sopheak.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Hongwen Sun

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chaza, C., Sopheak, N., Mariam, H. et al. Assessment of pesticide contamination in Akkar groundwater, northern Lebanon. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 14302–14312 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8568-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8568-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation