Determination of organochlorine pesticides in the surface water from Medjerda river, Tunisia

ABSTRACT

In recent years there have been growing environmental concern, especially regarding the utilisation and discharge of toxic substances. Many organic pollutants are detected in aquatic ecosystems such as pesticides. Because they are large-scale production and usage, toxicity, bioaccumulation, and persistence in the environment, they cause harmful effects to organisms and human health. The Medjerda River is one among the main rivers in Tunisia and a number of other studies addressed the importance of this river regarding ecology, geochemistry, and sociology. The organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were investigated in surface water samples from eight sampling sites in the Medjerda River. The extraction of water samples was performed by liquid-liquid extraction with hexane. Gas chromatography coupled to the mass spectrum (GC-MS) was used to perform qualitative and quantitative determinations. The levels of OCPs in water varied between 4.41 ng g⁻¹ and 29.04 ng g⁻¹. The Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and ∑DDT are the most dominant compounds in different sampling sites. Distribution of HCB, ∑DDT, and other OCPs are different indicating different sources of contamination. The concentrations of OCPs in the water pose no threat to human and aquatic living species.

KEYWORDS:

• OCPs
• distribution
• water
• Medjerda river
• GC-MS

Acknowledgments

Special thanks were given to anonymous reviewers for their useful suggestions and comments. Special thanks were also given to the marine environment laboratory team of the national institute of sciences and technologies of the sea, fishing port, la Goulette, Tunisia.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the ministry of higher education and scientific research, Tunisia;the ministry of higher education and scientific research, tunisia;