Residues of organochlorine insecticides in water and sediment from Ramgarh water reservoir, Jaipur, Rajasthan

In the present study we investigated the residues of HCH and its isomers (α,γ, and β), dieldrin, heptachlor, p,p’-DDT and its metabolites in water and sediment of the reservoir with the help of gas-chromatograph. The residues of γ-HCH were found in most of the water samples, while dieldrin in sediment samples. The mean concentration of p,p’-DDT was found maximum in water samples followed by γ-HCH, dieldrin, p,p’-DDD, β-HCH, p,p’-DDE, heptachlor, and α-HCH. However, the mean concentration of p,p’-DDE was found maximum in sediment samples followed by p,p’-DDD, p,p’-DDT, dieldrin, β-HCH, γ-HCH, α-HCH, and heptachlor. The monthly variation was found significant in mean concentration of HCH and its isomers, heptachlor, p,p’-DDT and its metabolites, in water samples. However, the HCH and its isomers varied significantly in sediment. The monthly variation, of organochlorine pesticide in water and sediment, showed the use of pesticides in different time intervals for different purposes in the catchment area of the reservoir.