Assessment of Insecticide Contamination from Dal Lake of Kashmir, India

Present study was taken to ascertain the presence of endosulfan and chlorpyrifos insecticides in waters of Dal Lake, Kashmir. Liquid–liquid extraction of samples was done and analyzed on gas chromatograph. Among seven different sites selected, three isomers of endosulfan: α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate residues, were recovered at the bottom of S1. Chlorpyrifos residues were found in the merged column and bottom samples of S5 to the tune of 0.021 ± 0.002 mg kg−1, while as at S6, chlorpyrifos was found at the bottom to the tune of 0.018 ± 0.087 mg kg−1. At S7, the chlorpyrifos was recovered from column and bottom samples. The study indicates that Dal Lake is contaminated with insecticide residues, which although below maximum residual limit (MRL) values are potent to intoxicate the vital edible plants and animal and subsequently pose threat to human population.