Showing papers in "Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 2001"

Comparison of organochlorine pesticide levels in soil and groundwater of Agra, India.

Abstract: One seventy five soil and one twenty six groundwater samples collected from agricultural, garden, nursery, and waste disposal sites were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) to investigate their occurrence, severity and sources, and to compare their levels in soil and groundwater. Soil and groundwater samples were collected from the middle horizon 15-30 cm and tube wells respectively. OCPs determined and comparised BHC, DDT, endosulfan, aldrin, dieldrin & heptachlor and chlordane. Depending on physical and chemical characteristics of OCPs different behaviors were found. In soil DDT had higher concentrations than that of BHC but in groundwater BHC exceeded DDT. In the present case soil is poor in organic matter so DDT metabolites being more stable than BHC could leach down to lower horizons richer in class and aquifers while more soluble BHC and DDT. Biodegradable BHC remained in the upper horizons, retained by organic matter. Aldrin levels were much higher than that of dieldrin both in soil and groundwater samples. Heptachlor was found at only few locations and chlordane was not detected. Further characterization of OCPs in soils and their aged signatures would be useful as to predict their levels on a regimal scale.