Contamination Levels of Organochlorine and Organophosphorous Pesticide Residues in Water and Sediment from River Owena, Nigeria

Abstract

River Owena functions as the source of water for the Owena dam which supplies drinking water to the communities in the region, the river also plays an important economic role in irrigation and fish farming in the region. But there has been an indiscriminate used of pesticide because residents of the study area are not well orientated concerning the negative impact of pesticide in the environment. Analysis of organochlorine and organophosphorous pesticide residues was carried out in water and sediment from river Owena, the objective of the research is to determine the contamination levels of organochlorine and organophosphorous pesticide in the water and sediment of river Owena. Analysis was carried out using gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector in order to identify and quantify the concentration of organochlorine and organophosphorous pesticide in the water and sediment samples from river Owena. Analysis revealed the contamination of water and sediment with organophosphorous pesticide residues at different contamination levels in both dry and rainy season, while a low levels of organochlorine pesticide residues only during the dry season. The TOPP for sediment samples ranges from 1.045mg/L during the dry season and 2.279mg/L during the rainy season, while the TOPP for water samples ranges from 7.163mg/L during the dry season to 7.83mg/L during the rainy season. The TOCP values ranges from 1.288mg/L to 0.015mg/L for sediment and water samples respectively during the dry season, while organochlorine pesticides were not detected during the rainy season. The occurrence and seasonal variation of organophosphorous pesticide residues in river Owena can be attributed to the intense agricultural and urban activities in the vicinity of river Owena.

Evaluation of Agricultural Contamination Level by Heavy Metals and Pesticides in Sediments of Rivers and Water Bodies for Shrimp Fishing in the Lower Ouémé: Case of the Aguigadji, Ahlan and Sele Stations in Benin

“…in 2019 who found DDT and endosulfan in Owena River sediments in Nigeria only in the dry season [20]. Similar to our results, Gbaguidi et al in 2011 [15] also detected atrazine only in the dry season in the sediments of the Agbado River.…”

Pesticides and Fertilizers Use in Parts of Rivers Niger and Kaduna Catchments, North Central, Nigeria

“…The implication of these indicators will be counterproductive in achieving healthy socio-economic wellbeing of the inhabitants in the study area. Indicators identified in this study are similar to findings in a number of studies in developing countries including Nigeria [17]; [18]; [13].…”

“…These include: abamectin, chlordane, dieldrin, endosulfan and aldrin. Similar studies in developing countries reveals heavy use of pesticides in farming with much use of organochlorine pesticides as revealed in a number of previous studies [12]; [13]; [14].…”

Levels of persistent organochlorine and polychlorinated biphenyls in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from three cage aquaculture farms on the Volta Basin of Ghana: Implications for human health

“…The US EPA 3550C method, as described by Solomon (2016) and Adeshina et al (2019) with a slight modification, was used to extract organochlorine pesticide residues from sediment samples. 10g of the grind fish and 5g of anhydrous sodium sulphate (Na 2 SO 4 ) was weighed into an extraction jar.…”