Distribution of Organochlorine Pesticide (OCPs) Residues in Water and Sediment from Euphrates River, Iraq

The distribution and levels of organochlorine pesticides residues in water and sediment were determined along Euphrates river from June 2013 to May 2014. The water and sediment samples analyzed using GC-MS. In all the water and sediment samples analyzed ,OCPs residues determined (TCMX, Alph-BHC, Gamma-BHC, Beta-BHC ,Delta –BHC, Heptachlor, Aldrin , Heptachlor-epoxide, Trans-chlordane, Cis-chlordane P,P,-DDE ,Endosulfan ?, Dieldrin,Endrin,P,P,- DDD, EndosulfanII , p, p,-DDT, Endrin aldehyde, Methoxychlor, Endosulfan sulfate, Endrin Ketone, Decachlorobiphenyl ) were present . The level of Endrin ketone (24.7%) was highest in water samples followed by Endrin aldehyed ( 22.5%) and TCMX as lowest level ( 0.490 %) . The pesticides residues in sediment samples were ranged between 211.104 µg/g as highest value in site 1 and 29.389 µg/g as lowest value in site 3 . In this study, the concentrations of OCPs in water lower than that of sediment. The pesticides may be washed into Euphrates River by leaching from agriculture lands, rain fall and fisheries. The results showed that Euphrates river was still contaminated by organochlorine pesticides and their residues despite bans on the production and usage over a long time.