Abstract
Residues of organochlorines and organophosphates were determined by gas chromatography in water and sediment from 26 locations in 17 major rivers, 7 natural springs and 13 wells across Jamaica. Samples were collected on only one occasion between May and July, 1994. Residues of endosulfan were detected in all but three rivers; α-endosulfan in 15 samples of sediment (0.9–108.1, mean = 28.93, S.E. = 7.198 μg kg-1) and 13 of water (0.01–0.35, mean = 0.11, S.E. = 0.035 μg L-1), β-endosulfan in 5 sediment (15.29–49.35, mean = 30.56, S.E. = 7.132 μg kg-1) and 12 water (0.05–0.31, mean = 0.14, S.E. = 0.031 μg L-1) samples, and endosulfan sulphate in waters of three rivers (0.003–0.244 μg L-1). Chlorpyrifos was present in 9 sediment (0.423-135.2, mean = 18.38, S.E. = 10.699 μg kg-1) and two water (0.001–0.022 μg L-1) samples, diazinon and ethoprophos in the sediment of one river each. Mean levels (μg L-1) of α and β isomers and sulphate of endosulfan were 0.16 (S.E. = 0.057), 0.12 (S.E. = 0.036) and 0.15 (S.E. = 0.089), respectively, in four of the seven springs and 0.23 (S.E. = 0.052), 0.11 (S.E. = 0.029) and 0.26 (S.E. = 0.088), respectively, in seven of the thirteen wells monitored.
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Witter, J.V., Robinson, D.E., Mansingh, A. et al. Insecticide Contamination of Jamaican Environment. V. Island-Wide Rapid Survey of Residues in Surface and Ground Water. Environ Monit Assess 56, 257–267 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005959704697
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005959704697