Pesticide Residues in Surface Water and Groundwater - Pesticides: Evaluation of Environmental Pollution - page 270

9.3.2 Levels of Pesticide Residues Found in Surface Water and Groundwater

Different researchers investigated the presence of pesticides in surface waters and ground-
water and reported ng/L concentrations of these compounds in the European region and
on the American continent. The most frequently detected pesticides in surface water and
groundwater are shown in Table 9.4. The commonly detected pesticides were those heavily
used in the past as well as in the present. Triazine herbicides (atrazine and simazine) were
detected most often and at the highest concentrations in surface water. These herbicides
are commonly used for weed control in the crop protection. Owing to their toxicity, water
solubility, adsorptivity, and persistence in the environment, they are regarded as detri-
mental water contaminants (Shen and Lee 2003). Phenylureas are reported to be among

TABLE 9.4
Concentration of Pesticides Found in Surface Water and Groundwater

Concentration
(ng/L) Pesticide Matrix References

Bentazone
MCPA
Simazine
Molinate
Atrazine
Propanil
2,4 D
Mecoprop
Metolachlor
Diuron

30510
1877
45
222
314
969
24
8
27
15

Surface water (Spain) Kuster et al. (2008)

MCPA 150 Surface water (Australia) Jordan et al. (2009)

Atrazine and Acetochlor
Prometryn, terbutryn, and
diazinon

200-1000
100-400

Surface water (Hungary) Maloschik et al. (2007)

Atrazine
Simazine
Diuron
Terbuthylazine

126
31
24
49

Surface water (Spain) Palma et al. (2009)

Bentazone
Diuron
Isoproturon
Triclopyr

93
33
379
66

Surface water (France) Gervais et al. (2008)

Isoproturon
Diuron
Chlortoluron
Simazine
Atrazine
Terbutylazine
Prometryn
Chlorfenvinphos

4
9
1
12
5
1
4
2

Surface water (Germany) Asperger et al. (2002)

Atrazine
Simazine
Diuron

31
37
9

Groundwater (Spain) Postigo et al. (2010)

DDT
α-Endosulfan
β-Endosulfan
Lindane

150-190
1340-2140
210-870
680-1380

Groundwater (India) Shukla et al. (2006)