Pesticide residue in water—a challenging task in India

Abstract

Modern agriculture practices reveal an increase in use of pesticides to meet the food demand of increasing population which results in contamination of the environment. In India, crop production increased to 100 %, but the cropping area has increased marginally by 20 %. Pesticides have played a major role in achieving the maximum crop production but maximum usage and accumulation of pesticide residues is highly detrimental to aquatic and other ecosystem. Pesticide residues in drinking water have become a major challenge over the last few years. It has been monitored in public water supply resources in National capital territory, i.e., Delhi. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), mainly isomers of hexachlorohexane (HCH), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), endosulphan, endrin, aldrin, dieldrin, and heptachlore, were identified from potable water samples. Results suggested that continuous consumption of contaminated water can pose severe health threats to local residents of this area. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi, had found α and β isomers of endosulphan residues in the Yamuna river. High concentrations of γ-HCH (0.259 μg/l) and malathion (2.618 μg/l) were detected in the surface water samples collected from the river Ganga in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP). High concentration of methyl parathion, endosulfan, and DDT were observed in water samples collected from the river at Bhagalpur, Bihar. The Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), Lucknow (UP) study also found 0.5671 ppb concentrations of endosulfan in the river at Allahabad, UP. Similar results were found in other water samples in India.

A Snapshot on Urban River Water Characterization and Advances in Remediation Strategies for its Restoration: A Global Perspective

“…The increasing levels of organic pollution in a river, commonly expressed by the BOD, has mainly resulted due to wastewater discharge from cities, agricultural practices and intensive livestock farms. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), mainly isomers of hexachlorohexane (HCH), dichloro-diphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), endosulphan, endrin, aldrin, dieldrin, and heptachlore, were found in potable water samples (Agarwal et al, 2015). Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi, India had found α and β isomers of endosulphan residues in the Yamuna river.…”

The Role of Soil Solarization in India: How an Unnoticed Practice Could Support Pest Control

“…India, with its average pesticide usage rate of 0.5 kg per hectare, contributes 4% to the world’s total pesticide consumption. More than 80% of the agrochemicals used in India are classified as insecticides, while 15% are herbicides and 2% are fungicides ( Agarwal et al, 2015 ). Though the pesticide consumption rates are high in the most productive areas of India and comparable to the high amounts used per hectare in the other parts of the world (Europe or United States), vast territories of poor crop production areas with nil or very low pesticide consumption pulls down the national average.…”

“…But this increased pesticide usage has led to the accumulation of pesticide residues in the aquatic and other ecosystems. Contamination of drinking water sources with these pesticide residues is becoming a significant threat in India ( Pillai and Rao, 1974 ; Khan et al, 1997 , 2000 ; Gill and Garg, 2014 ; Agarwal et al, 2015 ). Moreover, beside economic costs for their application (not irrelevant for many populations, such those of developing countries), the environmental impact of agrochemicals are assuming a central role in public debate worldwide and the search of environmental friendly protection techniques is primary ( Gill and Garg, 2014 ).…”

Organic micropollutants in groundwater of India—A review

“…Many studies on the presence of micropollutants in surface water bodies, soil, sediment, air, and sludge have been carried out in India (Gani & Kazmi, ; Philip, Aravind, & Aravindakumar, ). Agarwal, Prajapati, Singh, Raza, and Thakur () reviewed the various studies on the occurrence of pesticides in water from different parts of India. Studies carried out by different researchers on micropollutants in the aquatic environment of India were reviewed by Gani and Kazmi ().…”