Pesticide residues in thermal mineral water in Greece.
Eight different hot springs (SPA) in Greece were monitored over a one-year survey for priority pesticide residues. A specific and effective procedure including solid phase extraction in combination with HPLC and GC analytical methods were applied. Samples that were sensitive to nitrogen-phosphorus (NPD) and/or electron capture (ECD) detectors were analysed by capillary gas chromatography. From the twenty-six water samples, pesticide residues were detected in fourteen of them (54%) but no one exceeding the European Union Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC). Lindane (gamma-BHC) was the most frequently detected pesticide. It was found in nine samples (35%) in concentrations from < 0.005 to 0.01 microg/L. Other pesticides detected were phorate (in five samples), propachlor (in two samples) and chlorpyriphos ethyl (in three samples) but in concentrations far below the permissible levels.
D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D006115:Greece; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D008900:Mineral Waters; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane