title: Contamination from organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in agricultural soils of Kuttanad agroecosystem in India and related potential health risk.
abstract: The presence and distribution of a few organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the paddy fields of the Kuttanad agroecosystem (KAE) was examined in the present study. Kuttanad forms a part of the Vembanad wetland system which is a Ramsar site of international importance in the state of Kerala. This study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first report on the occurrence of OCP residues in KAE. Pesticide residue analysis was done with gas chromatograph (GC-ECD). Twenty-one soil samples were collected for the multiresidual analysis of OCPs. Sixteen OCP residues with a notable concentration were observed from the study area. α-BHC; β-BHC; γ-BHC; δ-BHC; α-chlordane; γ-chlordane; heptachlor; 4,4-DDT; 4,4-DDE; 4,4-DDD; α-endosulfan; β-endosulfan; aldrin; dieldrin; endrin aldehyde; and endrin ketone were the residues observed. The percentage-wise occurrence of OCP residues in the soil samples analysed (total of 63 samples from 21 sites, three samples per site) exhibits the following order: Σ BHC˃ Σ chlordane ˃ Σ dieldrin ˃ Σ aldrin ˃ Σ endrin˃ Σ heptachlor = endosulfan˃ Σ DDT. All pesticides detected from KAE are in the list of priority pollutants of US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The distribution pattern of OCPs in the KAE soils revealed their origin as both historical and recent application of pesticides. Health risk assessment of OCP residues on human population was also conducted. The findings indicated that the concentrations of OCPs were within the permissible limits of USEPA, thus, the human population in the study area was safe.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sruthi
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shyleshchandran
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sunil Paul
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India. evramasamy@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D062489:Health Impact Assessment; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D007194:India; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Hazard quotient (HQ); Health risk assessment; Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs); Persistent organic pollutants (POPs); Pesticide residue; Recovery rate