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Page No. : 75-79

ABSTRACT

Pesticides are one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants and their presence in drinking water sources is a particular threat to life. In this study, one hundred nine water samples from four sources viz., canal, hand pump, submersible pump and tap water were collected from high and low pesticide consumption areas of Punjab. Pesticide residues were analyzed on gas chromatograph and confirmation was done on gaschromatograph-mass spectrometer. The results revealed the presence of α-HCH, pp DDE, endosulfan sulphate, chlorpyrifos, ethion and profenofos residues in water samples. Canal water samples were found to be more contaminated followed by hand pump, submersible pump and tap water with total residue burden of6120.3, 4087.8, 3987.6 and 2390.9 ng L-1, respectively, in high pesticide consumed areas. The spatial variation indicated significantly more contamination of water resources in high pesticide use regions. Canal and handpump water sources were observed to be more contaminated than the submersible and tap water. The calculated Human health benchmarks for endosulfan, chlorpyrifos and profenofos residues in drinking tap water were found to be lower than USEPA limits and are thus within safer range.

Keywords: Gas chromatography, pesticide residues, Punjab, water