Occurrence and levels of pesticides in South Lebanon water

Abstract

This study reviews the detection of pesticides in different surface and groundwater samples collected from South Litani region in South Lebanon during 2012. These have been analyzed using an optimized and validated solid phase extraction method followed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides were mostly noted at levels below the recommended value for individual pesticide in water except pirimiphosmethyl that was recorded at 300.87 ng L −1 in groundwater sample, designated for drinking water and collected in February. DDE concentration exceeded 100 ng L −1 in both surface and groundwater in October. The reported results represent the first Lebanese statistical data illustrating the quantification of pesticides in water over a period of time. More importantly, it draws attention to the need of pesticides' monitoring programs in the Lebanese water resources.

Suggested policy and legislation reforms to reduce deleterious effect of pesticides in Lebanon

“…The PRISW-1 scores calculated, ranged from 46 for Ibrahim River, 49 for Hasbani River and Qaroun Lake (>40), and the major contributors were chlorpyriphos, DDE-pp, diazinon and fenpropathrin ( Aisha et al., 2017 ). In South Lebanon, ground and surface water tests on samples taken during 2012 showed low levels of organochlorines and organophosphates, except for a high level of pirimiphos-methyl that reached up to 300.87 ng L−1 in a ground water sample meant for drinking ( Youssef et al., 2015 ).…”

“…Other problems reside somewhere else at post-registration level in the life cycle management. Youssef et al. (2015) concluded from a study on ground and surface water in South Lebanon with a recommendation for setting and enforcing regulations to reduce pesticides’ impact on environment and human health ( Youssef et al., 2015 ).…”

Persistence and Bioaccumulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Soil and Aquatic Ecosystems: Syrian Frontiers in Ecology and Environment

“…Lebanon was discovered (Youssef et al, 2015). Levels of 100µg/l or more of 4-chloroα,α,α-trifluorotoluene (P-chlorobenzorifluoride or CTT, C 7 H 4 ClF 3 ), 3-nitro-4-chloroα,α,α-trifluoro-toluene (NCTT, C 7 H 3 ClF 3 NO 2 ) and 3,5-dinitro-4-chloro-α, α, α-trifluorotoluene (DNCTT, C 7 H 2 ClF 3 N 2 O 4 ) were found, while in the drinking water 1µg/l NCTT was detected.…”

Plaguicidas Organoclorados en Agua De La Laguna Negra De Puerto Marqués, Acapulco, Guerrero, México

“…En cuanto a la relación DDE/DDD, se apreció una mayor presencia de DDE en ambas épocas (de lluvias y seca) con relación al DDD; dicho comportamiento se puede explicar en razón de que el DDD se degrada más rápido en el ambiente y existe una entrada reciente debido a la prohibición del uso de DDT (Youssef et al 2015). De acuerdo con Steyn et al (2018), el DDT se ha empleado para el control del paludismo en Sudáfrica, aspecto que ha sido objeto de reflexión en convenios internacionales, donde se menciona su uso continuado por algunos países (principalmente en vías de desarrollo) para el control de esta enfermedad, a pesar de su prohibición (SCPOP 2008).…”