The concentration of pesticides in sediments from Kolleru Lake in India

Kolleru Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in India. Sediment samp les were collected at different locations from Kolleru Lake at different se asons in a year over a period of three years and analyzed for eight selecte d pesticides. In general, pesticides were present at all locations. The sel ected pesticides alpha -BHC, gamma -BHC, malathion, chlorpyrifos and endosu lfan were present at higher concentrations than isodrin, dieldrin and p,p'- DDT. The concentrations of alpha -BHC, gamma -BHC malathion, chlorpyrifos, isodr in, endosulfan, dieldrin and p,p'-DDT in sediments were 1.2-388, 1.4-212, f rom below the minimum detection limit (BDL)-186, 1.1-292, BDL-38.6, BDL-206 , BDL-128 and BDL-191 mu gkg(-1) dry weight, respectively. The aim of this study is to evaluate baseline data, to try to account for the concentration of pesticides in sediments and to discuss their potential to affect human beings and aquatic organisms. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.