MONITORING OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN DRAINAGE, CANAL AND TAP WATERS AT DAMANHOUR, EL-BEHIRA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

ABSTRACT The study was carried out to monitor the organochlorine (OC) and organophosphorus (OP) insecticide residues in drainage, canal and tap waters of Damanhour city, Egypt. Pesticides monitored were selected among organochlorine and organophosphorus insecticides. Results revealed that, the recovery efficiencies of the tested compounds yielded more than 85.5% at a fortification level 5 ng/ml. Detection limits of each compound ranged between 10 to 30 ng/L. Also results confirm the presence of eight pesticide residues representing the OC compounds in drainage, canal and tap waters. Heptachlorepoxide (0.16 µg/l), p,p -DDE (1.9 µg/l), dieldrin (0.039 µg/l) and p,p -DDD (1.55 µg/l) residues were found to be higher in drainage water than the permissible limits of these compounds. Also, the OP pesticide residues (ethoprophos) were found only in drainage water. In general pesticide residues in summer water samples were relatively higher than that of winter water samples. In conclusion, drainage water was higher polluted and contains more pesticide residues than canal and tap waters. This means that the discharging of agricultural wastes in the water supplies must be controlled