Contamination of Surface Waters by Obsolete Pesticides Emanating from a Point Source in Coast Region, Tanzania
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Date
2007
Journal Title
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Publisher
University of Nairobi
Abstract
This paper reports on the concentrations of organochlorine pesticide residues in water samples collected from 1 – 25 km away from a highly obsolete pesticides contaminated site at Vikuge farm in Coast region -Tanzania. GPC-cleaned extracts analyzed by GC-ECD and confirmed by GC-MS showed the presence of twelve compounds namely p,p’-DDT, o,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE, o,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDD, o,p’-DDD, pentachloroanisole, a-HCH, b-HCH, g-HCH, aldrin and dieldrin. The concentrations of total DDT ranged from 819 – 1764 ng/l in pond water, below detection limit (bdl) – 1076 ng/l in river water, and bdl – 572 ng/l in drinking water. The concentrations of total HCHs were up to 23 ng/l in pond water, 1167 ng/l in river water, and 12 ng/l in drinking water. The highest concentrations for other compounds were 29.2 +/- 0.1 ng/l for pentachloroanisole, 8+/- 0.7 ng/l for aldrin and 6+/- 0.6 ng/l for dieldrin. There are strong positive correlations in the concentrations of most of the detected compounds suggesting a common source. Some concentrations were higher than the respective maximum residue limits and guidelines for aquatic ecosystems indicating potential risks and concerns for public health and the environment at large.
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Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES
Citation
Marco, J.A. M. and Kishimba,M.A., 2007. Contamination of surface waters by obsolete pesticides emanating from a point source in Coast Region, Tanzania. International Journal of BioChemiPhysics 16, Nos1 & 2, pp 17–26.