ABSTRACT
The levels of 19 organochlorine pesticides [OCPs] in surface water and under water sediments from tanks located nearby the prime agricultural areas of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India were investigated to evaluate their pollution risks. A total of 36 surface water samples at 9 sampling sites and 27 sediment samples at 9 sampling stations were collected from tanks, which were the water sources for cultivation. The total OCPs concentration in surface water and sediments were 5.68-25.12 ng/L and 17.7-58.59 ng/g dry weight [dw], respectively. Among the OCPs, hexachlorocyclohexanes [HCHs], dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [DDTs] and heptachlor epoxide were the most dominant compounds in the sediment as well as surface water. The dominant OCPs in sediment and water were beta-HCH in HCHs, p,p-DDD in DDTs and heptachlor epoxide in other OCPs. Distribution of HCHs, DDTs and other OCPs were different indicating their different sources. Composition analysis in sediments indicated a recent usage of lindane