The study attempts to find out the pollution potential in the Hindon river, a polluted river in western Uttar Pradesh. Qualitative and quantitative estimation of pesticides was done using gas chromatography. Among various organic, inorganic and biological water pollutants, pesticides are very dangerous and harmful because of their carcinogenic properties. Pesticides are bio-accumulative and relatively stable and therefore require close monitoring.
A total of 34 samples (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon) were collected from the Hindon water & sediments, tributaries and effluent drains. The detected pesticides were Lindane, Malathion, BHC, p,p’-DDD, o,p’-DDT and Methoxychlor. The concentrations of these pesticides were higher in sediments as compared to the Hindon water, its tributaries and effluent drains.
The presence of the pesticides in river sediment shows the self purification capacity of the river adsorption process. The concentrations of these pesticides in water, sediment, tributaries and effluents drains were also higher in comparison to the maximum permissible limits indicating pesticide pollution of the Hindon river. It has been observed that agricultural activities are the main source of pesticide pollution (non-point).
Besides, the presence of the pesticides in the Hindon tributaries and effluent drains indicates that these tributaries and effluent drains are also a polluting (point source) for the Hindon river.
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