Organochlorine pesticide residues in sediments from the Uganda side of Lake Victoria
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Chemosphere
Abstract
Organochlorine (OC) residues were analysed in 117 sediment samples collected from four bays of the
Uganda side of Lake Victoria. The sediments were collected with a corer at a depth of 0–20 cm, and
extracted for OC residues using a solid dispersion method. The extracts were cleaned using gel permeation
chromatography and analysed for pesticide residues using a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with
an electron capture detector. The results were confirmed using a GC equipped with a mass spectrometer
(MS). A total of 16 OC residues, most of them persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were identified and
quantified. The OC residue levels were expressed on an oven dry weight (d.w.) basis. Endosulphan
sulphate, in the range of 0.82–5.62 lg kg 1 d.w., was the most frequently detected residue. Aldrin and
dieldrin were in the ranges of 0.22–15.96 and 0.94–7.18 lg kg 1 d.w., respectively. DDT and its metabolites
lay between 0.11–3.59 for p,p0-DDE, 0.38–4.02 for p,p0-DDD, 0.04–1.46 for p,p0-DDT, 0.07–2.72 for
o,p0-DDE and 0.01–1.63 lg kg 1 d.w. for o,p0-DDT. The levels of c-HCH varied from 0.05 to 5.48 lg kg 1
d.w. Heptachlor was detected only once at a level of 0.81 lg kg 1 d.w., while its photo-oxidation product,
heptachlor epoxide, ranged between non-detectable (ND) to 3.19 lg kg 1 d.w. Chlordane ranged from ND
to 0.76 lg kg 1 d.w. Based on the threshold effect concentration (TEC) for fresh water ecosystems, aldrin
and dieldrin were the only OCs that seemed to be a threat to the lake environment.
Description
Keywords
Persistent organic pollutants, Pesticides, Metabolites, Lake Victoria, Sediment
Citation
Wasswa, J., Kiremire, B. T., Nkedi-Kizza, P., Mbabazi, J., & Ssebugere, P. (2011). Organochlorine pesticide residues in sediments from the Uganda side of Lake Victoria. Chemosphere, 82(1), 130-136. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.09.010