Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Soil and Water in the Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Region, Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37375/susj.v16i1.4133Keywords:
Environmental Pollution, Groundwater, Liquid Chromatography, Organochlorine Pesticides, SoilAbstract
This study aimed to quantitatively assess the residues of seven organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soil and water samples from five major agricultural areas in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar (Al-Wasita, Qarnada, Lamluda, Al-Hannaya, and Al-Faydiya) during March 2025. A total of 30 samples were collected, equally distributed between soil (n=15) and water (n=15). Extraction and cleanup procedures were performed following the Pesticide Analytical Manual (1978) [14], and quantitative analysis was conducted using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with a UV detector. The results revealed the presence of three pesticides (Endrin, Heptachlor, and p,p'-DDT) in positive samples, with a total contamination rate of 33.3%. Soil samples recorded the highest mean concentration for Endrin (0.061 ppm), which was statistically significantly above the permissible limit (P=0.034). Pesticide concentrations in water were generally below permissible limits, except for Heptachlor in the Lamluda area, which recorded a concentration equal to the maximum permissible limit (0.037 ppm). Qualitative correlation analysis revealed matching pesticide types in both media, supporting the hypothesis of their transfer from soil to groundwater through leaching. The study recommends intensifying periodic environmental monitoring programs and investigating transfer through the food chain.References
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