Journal of
Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

  • Abbreviation: J. Environ. Chem. Ecotoxicol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-226X
  • DOI: 10.5897/JECE
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 197

Full Length Research Paper

Distribution and ecological risk assessment of pesticide residues in surface water, sediment and fish from Ogbesse River, Edo State, Nigeria

Ezemonye Lawrence
  • Ezemonye Lawrence
  • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Forensics Laboratory Unit, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria.
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Ogbeide Ozekeke
  • Ogbeide Ozekeke
  • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Forensics Laboratory Unit, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria.
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Tongo Isioma
  • Tongo Isioma
  • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Forensics Laboratory Unit, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria.
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  •  Received: 11 November 2014
  •  Accepted: 19 January 2015
  •  Published: 23 February 2015

Abstract

The contamination of pesticides in water, sediments, Clarias gariepinus, and Tilapia zilli from Ogbesse River was investigated to evaluate the pollution status and potential hazard in river system. A total of sixteen pesticides were analyzed using Gas Chromatography (GC) equipped with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD). The concentration of pesticide residues ranged from ND to 0.43 µg/l for water samples, 0.82 to 2.14 µg/kg dw for sediment, 0.04 to 2.34 µg/kg/ww for C. gariepinus and 0.02 to 1.73 µg/kg/ww for T. zilli. There was a clear dominance of the organochlorine; Hexachlorocyclohexane (α HCH, γ - HCH (lindane), β- HCH) in all matrixes. Ecological risk assessment of pesticide residues in water samples using the Risk Quotient deterministic method showed the likelihood of cause adverse effects for each fish species (RQ≥1). Human health risk assessment indicated that the consumption of contaminated fishes (C. gariepinus and T. zilli) could have potential health implications.

 

Key words: Pesticides, chromatography, risk quotient, estimated daily intake, hazard quotient, environmental exposure.