Contamination levels and spatial distribution of organochlorine pesticides in soils from India

Organochlorine pesticides, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), are potential chemical pollutants extensively used for agriculture and vector control purposes due to low cost and high effectiveness. Concentrations of HCH and DDT were determined in 175 surface soil samples from different agricultural fields, fallow and urban lands of districts Nagaon and Dibrugarh, Assam, India. The mean concentrations of total HCH and total DDT were 825 ng/g (range: 98–1945 ng/g) and 903 ng/g (range: 166–2288 ng/g) in district Nagaon while 705 ng/g (range: 178–1701 ng/g) and 757 ng/g (range: 75–2296 ng/g) in district Dibrugarh, respectively. The soils from paddy fields contained highest amounts of HCH and DDT residues. Total organic carbon was found to be positively associated with soil HCH and DDT residues. Ratios of DDT/(DDD+DDE) were 1.25 and 1.82 while of α/γ HCH were 2.78 and 2.51 for districts Dibrugarh and Nagaon, respectively. Source identification revealed that soil residue levels have originated from long past and recent mixed source of technical HCH and Lindane for HCHs and mainly technical DDT for DDTs. Spatial distribution was also investigated to identify the areas with higher pesticide loadings in soil.

► OCPs, mainly DDT and HCH, are still being used for vector control and agriculture in NE India.
► As DDTs and HCHs pollution is very high, soils in study area show high levels of these pesticides.
► Soil levels were found highest among the levels reported so far from various parts of India.
► The soils from paddy fields contained highest amounts of HCHs and DDTs as compared to other fields.
► Source identification revealed that residue levels have originated from long past to recent usage.