Determination of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Water and Sediment Samples from Selected Areas of River Ilaje, Nigeria

Abstract

Water and sediment samples were collected from 4 different locations along the coastal areas of river Ilaje in Ondo state, Nigeria. The water samples were subjected to liquid-liquid while the sediment samples were subjected to solid-liquid extraction, the extracts were later analyzed for organochlorine pesticide residues using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer. The result shows that organochlorine pesticide residues were not detected in the water samples from all the sampling sites but were detected in some of the sediment samples, Lindane 0.303-0.344 µg/g in Abereke sampling site, while in Ogogoro sampling site Lindane 0.217-0.391 µg/g, Dieldrin 0.103 µg/g and Endosulfan II 0.176 µg/g. The absence of organochlorine pesticide residue in water samples shows that the water is free from organochlorine pesticide contamination but the presence of organochlorine pesticide residues in sediment shows that there is bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticide residues in the sediment of river Ilaje in the Ondo coastal area of Nigeria. `