Organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in the zooplankton, fishes, and shrimps of tropical shallow tidal creeks and the associated human health risk.

Abstract

Studies on organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and heavy metals (HMs) from tidal creeks are scarce. Sixteen OCPs and seven HMs were measured in the surface water, zooplankton, two fishes (Harpadon nehereus and Pampus argenteus), and one shrimp (Penaeus indicus) collected from three tidal creeks of the Indian Sundarban. The surface water was polluted by hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (ΣHCH: 525-1581 ng l-1), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane congeners (ΣDDT: 188-377 ng l-1), endosulfan congeners (ΣEND: 687-1474 ng l-1), and other OCPs (512-1334 ng l-1). However, the mean HM concentrations in the surface water were <1 μg l-1. The zooplankton community exhibited bioaccumulation of both OCPs and HMs. Aldrin, Heptachlor, and α-HCH levels in the edible biotas could lead to cancer. Co and Cd levels could lead to non-cancerous risks, and Pb levels could pose a cancerous risk. This study showed that creeks could be potential sites of both OCP and HM pollution.