Z. Rehana et al., MUTAGENIC ACTIVITY OF THE GANGES WATER WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE PESTICIDE POLLUTION IN THE RIVER BETWEEN KACHLA TO KANNAUJ (UP), INDIA, Mutation research. Genetic toxicology testing, 343(2-3), 1995, pp. 137-144
Water samples from Ganga river were collected from 3 different locatio
ns viz. Kachla, Fatehgarh and Kannauj (U.P.). High performance liquid
chromatography analysis of samples by liquid-liquid extraction procedu
re showed the presence of some pesticides like DDT, alpha-BHC, aldrin,
dieldrin etc. DDT, alpha-BHC, DDD, aldrin and dieldrin were present a
t concentration ranges of 3.33-5.33 ppb, 1.73-3.01 ppb, 0.88-2.41 ppb,
1.17-2.81 ppb and 0.49-4.11 ppb, respectively. The organophosphorus p
esticides like dimethoate and methyl parathion were also detected at t
he concentration levels of 0.41-0.56 ppb and 0.16-0.50 ppb, respective
ly. The organic substances in the test samples were extracted by XAD-r
esin and liquid-liquid extraction procedures, and the extracts were as
sayed for mutagenic potential by the Ames Salmonella/microsome test. T
he test samples exhibited a remarkable degree of mutagenicity with TA9
8, TA100 and TA97a strains with the probable role of contaminating pes
ticides in the river water.