Concentrations of pesticide residues in samples of water, soil and sediments in the Western Usambara and Uluguru Mountains part of Tanzania

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study reports pesticide residue concentrations detected in sample matrices as follows: Water: parathion 0.34, β-endosulfan 0.04, p, p-DDT 0.1, α-HCH 0.172, dieldrin 0.19, α-endosulfan 0.02 and marathion 0.22 µg/l. Soil: parathion 45.46, α-HCH 4.64, γ-HCH 0.44, β-endosulfan 3.09, p, p-DDT 23.75, p, p-DDD 1.34, p, p-DDE 0.98, dieldrin 3.87, α-endosulfan 0.82, marathion 17.51, δ-HCH 5.19 and β-HCH 33.4 µg/kg. Sediments: parathion 210.71, α-HCH 51.71, γ-HCH 14.09, β-endosulfan 23.05, p, p-DDT 187.89, p, p-DDD 86.19, o, p-DDE 6.21, dieldrin 4.58, marathion 155.9, δ-HCH 6.85 and β-HCH 15.18 µg/kg. Organochlorine pesticides were detected in many samples, whereas carbamate pesticides were detected in few samples but in higher concentrations. Integrated Pest Management is preferable.