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

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Abstract

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 (α and β), endosulfan sulfate, heptachlor and its metabolites, α-chlordane, γ-chlordane and methoxychlor. In the river water and sediments ΣOCPs 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Chemistry Division, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Post Box 80, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, India

    Amrita Malik, Priyanka Ojha & Kunwar P. Singh

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  1. Amrita Malik
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  2. Priyanka Ojha
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  3. Kunwar P. Singh
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Correspondence to Kunwar P. Singh.

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Malik, A., Ojha, P. & Singh, K.P. Levels and distribution of persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in water and sediments of Gomti River (India)—a tributary of the Ganges River. Environ Monit Assess 148, 421–435 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0172-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0172-2

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