Pesticide Residues in Surface Water of Lakes Around Hyderabad, India

Investigation was taken up to study the levels of pesticides residues contamination in drinking water bodies, which supply the drinking water to Hyderabad and surrounding sub-urban areas. The total of 4 lakes were selected for surface water sample collection. The water samples were collected four time from each location i.e. during post-monsoon 2005, pre-monsoon 2006, post-monsoon 2006 and pre-monsoon 2007 and analyzed by multiresidue method on Gas Chromatograph. The water samples collected from four reservoirs were detected with HCH isomers, DDT isomers, endosulfan isomers, dicofol, malathion, methyl parathion, chlorpyrphos, pendimethalin and atrazine. None of the pyrethroids were detected in any samples. The organochlorine pesticides residues were detected in most of the samples. Chlorpyrphos, malathion, ethion residues were detected in the reservoirs where the catchment area is with intensive agriculture. Most of the samples recorded residues above MRL of 0.5 ppb prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards 2004.