Pesticides Residues in Ground Water In Parts of NCR Area of Uttar Pradesh

Insecticides, herbicides and rodenticides, the most widely used chemical pesticide are considered acutely dangerous to human being. The pollution of soil and water bodies by pesticides used in agriculture can pose an important threat to aquatic ecosystems and drinking water resources. Pesticides enter in surface and ground water bodies primarily as washout from crops where its application is prevalent. Pesticides are also used on golf courses, forested areas, along roadsides, and in suburban and urban landscape areas. As the chemical pesticide percolate through the soil zones and reaches the ground water body, the degradation of ground water quality starts and sometimes attains to such a label which is considered objectionable with regards to drinking water standards. The study carried out in Bisrakh block of Gautam Budh Nagar, Loni block of Ghaziabad district and Khekhra block of Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh reveals that the ground water is affected due to application of pesticides in these areas. In Bisrakh block of GautamBudh Nagar the pesticide residue Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (α and β) were localized and the highest Total HCH value being 0.000149 μg/l (Salarpur). The DDT metabolites i.e. 4,4’ –DDT was also localized with the highest value 0.000125 μg/l was recorded in Hosiyarpur. However, Chlorpyrifos was present in 67% samples with the highest value 0.005371 μg/l, in Hoshiyarpur. Aldrin has been detected in 17% of water samples. Similarly in Loni block of Ghaziabad district and Khekhra block of Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh the pesticide residue Hexachlorocyclohexane ( HCH ) isomers ( α, β, γ and δ ) were localized and the highest Total HCH value being 0.00715 μg/l (Banthala of Loni block). The DDT metabolites i.e. 4,4’ –DDT& 2,4’-DDE were also localized with the highest value 0.00008 μg/l & 0.1762 μg/l were recorded in Firozpur and Alipur of Khekhra block respectively.. Aldrin has been detected only in 2% of water samples. The Chlorpyrifos was also present in 25% samples with the highest value 0.00359 μg/l in Firozpur village of khekhra block of Baghpat district. The traces of pesticides occurrences in ground water with varying concentration and distribution though presently not alarming, may well be related to their application.