Organophosphorus pollutants (OPP) in aquatic environment at Damietta Governorate, Egypt: implications for monitoring and biomarker responses

Chemosphere. 2006 Jun;63(9):1491-8. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.09.019. Epub 2005 Nov 14.

Abstract

The study was carried out from spring 1999 to spring 2001 to monitor the residue levels of organophosphorus pollutants (OPP) in aquatic environment of the drainage canal surrounding a pesticide factory at Damietta Governorate. Water, sediment, and fish samples were collected at six different seasonal periods. OPPs were analyzed by GLC and confirmed using GC-MS. Chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, malathion, diazinon, pirimiphos-methyl and profenofos were detected in most samples. Chlorpyrifos was dominant in all water and sediment samples. It was ranged from 24.5 to 303.8 and 0.9 to 303.8 ppb in water and sediment samples, respectively. Diazinon level was slightly similar to chlorpyrifos in fish samples. Data based on the grand total concentration of OPP showed that the most polluted samples were collected either at spring 1999 or autumn 2000. They were 675.5 and 303.8 ppb in water samples and 43.0 and 52.2 ppb in fish collected at spring 1999 and autumn 2000, respectively. The obtained results are in parallel to that found in case of cholinesterase activity where the activity of both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) was declined at these seasonal period. The activity levels of AChE and BuChE were found to be 77.18% and 59.67% of control at spring 1999 and 78.62% and 85.80% of control, at autumn 2000, respectively. Thus, AChE and BuChE could be used as biomarkers for tracing and biomonitoring OPP pollution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Chemical Industry
  • Chlorpyrifos / analysis
  • Cholinesterases / analysis*
  • Diazinon / analysis
  • Egypt
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Fishes / metabolism
  • Geologic Sediments
  • Industrial Waste
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Pesticide Residues / analysis
  • Sewage
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Industrial Waste
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Pesticide Residues
  • Sewage
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Cholinesterases
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Diazinon