Eco-toxicological study, characterization, distribution and sourcing of persistent organochlorine pesticides in Shalatin (Halayeb Triangle) sediment samples

Abstract

This preliminary study looked at the concentrations, sources, and hazards of the persistent organochlorine pesticides in 71 sediment samples from the Shalatin area (Egyptian Red Sea coast). Conventional methods were used to study the persistent organochlorinated pesticide residue. The residues of 16 organochlorine pesticides were determined using the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer-mass spectrometer (GC-MS/MS); selected reaction monitoring (SRM) technique. The total pesticide residue (ng g(-1), dry weight) extended from < DL-0.628; < DL-7.128; and < DL-8.256 ng g(-1) for hexachloro-cyclohexane (HCHs), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro ethane (DDTs), and cyclodienes (CDs), respectively. DDD and DDE, metabolites of DDT, are abundant in the sediment samples, suggesting that the identified DDTs were ancient and not recently added to the Shalatin area due to the lack of potential sources of these metabolites such as rivers or agricultural activities near this area. The organochlorine pesticides in sediment samples are lower than those reported for other global regions. The source identification of organochlorine pesticides and the Eco-toxicological study were also investigated. The analysis of possible health and environmental issues showed that there were not many hazards to either people or animals in the area under study. The widespread use of organochlorine pesticides for non-agricultural and agricultural purposes is this study's leading cause of persistent pesticides.