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

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Kunwar P. Singh & Amrita Malik

  2. National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, (India)

    Sarita Sinha

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  1. Kunwar P. Singh
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  2. Amrita Malik
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  3. Sarita Sinha
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Correspondence to Kunwar P. Singh.

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Singh, K.P., Malik, A. & Sinha, S. Persistent Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Soil and Surface Water of Northern Indo-Gangetic Alluvial Plains. Environ Monit Assess 125, 147–155 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9247-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9247-0

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