Accumulation and distribution of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues in water, sediments and fishes, Heteropneustis fossilis and Puntius ticto from Kali River, India

Abstract

The present study focused on distribution pattern of persistent organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides residues found in water, sediments and fish tissues from the Kali River. The total 10 pesticides were observed viz., monochrotophos, parathione, phorete, malathion, α- BHC, β- BHC, γ-BHC, δ-BHC, endrine and endosulfon using gas chromatography electron capture detector technique. The concentrations of dominant pesticides were recorded as endosulfon (15.21 ng/L) and γ-BHC (15.54 ng/L) in water samples and γ-BHC (21.23 µg/kg) and parathion (19.14 µg/kg) in sediment samples and malathion (22.72 µg/kg) in liver of H. fossilis and monocrotophos (9.15 µg/g) in liver of Puntius ticto respectively in Kali river. High concentration of all selected pesticides dominant specially (malathion, phorate, monocrotophose, endrin and BHC) observed in all selected component riverin media are an indication of the current illegal use of banned pesticides for agricultural activities in the bank of river. The concentration exceeds to desirable limits indicators that there is a potential cancer risk for the local residents with life time consumption of pesticide contaminated fishes. The biomagnifications pattern of pesticides in Kali River is a major concern with present food web of river ecosystem and ultimately will be caused health hazards in dependent human community of catchment basin of River Kali in western U.P. India.        Key words: Pesticide, water, sediments, fish tissues, Kali River.