ORGANOCHLORINE RESIDUES IN RURAL DRINKING-WATER SOURCES OF NORTHERN AND NORTH EASTERN INDIA

Organochlorine pesticide residues concentrations in water samples coll ected from rural areas of northern and north eastern districts of Indi a were studied. In the study, pesticide residues were detected in both the surface and ground water although the concentrations detected wer e below the WHO prescribed limit. Alpha HCH, total HCH and aldrin were detected in all the samples. The total DDT was detected in 90.9% grou nd water and 82% surface water samples. The average beta HCH and pp' D DT concentrations were found to be higher as compared to their other m etabolites. Ground water had alpha HCH, beta HGH, gamma HCH, op' DDT, pp' DDT, pp' DDE pp' DDD, endosulfan and aldrin higher by 4.6%, 14.06% , 2.4%, 24.2%, 15.6%, 101.02%, 174%, 57.85% and 24.73% as compared to surface water. The correlation between pesticide residues and nitrate concentration was non significant and could be due to their low concen tration.