Journal of Environment and Health Science | 2015-05-01

Risk characterization of DDT pollution in ground drinking water from cotton and rice growing areas of Punjab, Pakistan

Agustin Ariño

Abstract

In Pakistan only few reports exist for the contamination of ground drinking water by pesticides. To explore the potential health hazards of DDT and its metabolites p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDD and o,p′-DDT four major districts of cotton (Vehari and Multan) and rice belts (Sheikhupura, and Gujranwala) from Punjab (Pakistan) were selected to estimate the contamination of pesticides in ground drinking water samples (n= 40). Samples were taken in triplicate from two types of sources, hand pumps and wells, and water samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography equipped with UV-Vis detector. The concentration levels of ƩDDT in ground water of the cotton belt from Vehari and Multan were in the range of 0.296 to 0.625 µg/L and 0.117 to 0.551 µg/L, respectively. The concentration levels of ƩDDT in ground water of the rice belt from Sheikhupura and Gujranwala were in the range of LOD to 0.420 µg/L and 0.054 to 0.354 µg/L, respectively. The concentration levels of DDT and its degradation products were higher in well than in hand pump water samples from both cotton and rice belts. Health risk assessment analysis of DDT in ground water indicated that exposure relative to body weight would be higher for children than for adults. The study has urged the need for monitoring pesticide contamination in ground drinking water resources regularly, and the development of maximum permissible standards for specific pesticides in Pakistan. The conclusions and recommendations drawn from the study will be circulated to policy makers in central and local governments, extension agents and farmers.

Keywords: Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs), RP-HPLC, Drinking water, Health risk assessment