S. MURALIDHARAN &

V. DHANANJAYAN

PERSISTENT ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FISHES OF INLAND WETLAND OF

SOUTH INDIA

SÁLIM ALI CENTRE FOR ORNITHOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY(An autonomous centre aided by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India)

Anaikatty P.O., Coimbatore - 641 108. INDIA

Wetlands in India are increasingly facing several anthropogenic pressures. Survey of 140 major sites across various agro-climatic zones identified anthropogenic interference as the main source of wetland degradation (Anon.1993).

The current wetland loss rate in India can lead to serious consequences, where 74% of the human population is rural (World Development Report, 1994) and many of these people are wetland resource dependent.

Although growing human population, large scale changes in land use, burgeoning development projects and the improper use of watersheds are all responsible for decline of wetland resources, significant losses have created due to industrial and agricultural operations.

Pesticide consumption pattern in various states of India

UP AP

Punjab

Haryan

a

Gujarat

Mahara

shtra W

B

Karnata

ka

Rajasth

an TN MPBiha

r

Assam NE

0

2

4

6

8

Pesticides are the ubiquitous contaminants Fishes, Birds and Humans are the worst victims

India is now both the largest manufacturer and consumer of pesticides in South Asia. Despite the proliferation of different types of pesticides, organochlorine such as HCH and DDT still account for two thirds of the total consumption in the country because of their low cost and versatility in action against various pests.

About 70% of the pesticides used in agricultural fields reach adjoining water bodies through rain or irrigation (Ridgway et al., 1978) or by their direct use in the water bodies for control of aquatic weeds (Li, 1975). These chemicals are toxic to many aquatic organisms.

Few studies have indicated the presence of pesticide residues in fishes (Amaraneni and Pillala 2001), foodstuffs (Kannan et al., 1992) and birds (Muralidharan 1993, Senthilkumar et al. 2001).

Some surveys are also available in northern and central India, but information regarding situation in fishes of inland wetlands is very rare. Fish are long-living animals accumulating toxicants integrating over time and space which turn resulting organochlorine toxicity in human being (Kumari et al 2001).

To prioritize Indian wetlands for conservation action, documenting the contamination status of fish is an essential tool.

OBJECTIVES

1. Assess the contamination profile of fishes

of inland wetlands of South India

2. Generate a data base to prioritize conservation measures

3. Evaluate the possible toxic impact on the consumers (man).

• Hierarchy in food chain• Accumulative capacity• Nutritional abundance• Sampling convenience• Tissue levels reflect current and

past exposures

Fishes - Ideal indicators?

STATES INCLUDED FOR THIS STUDY

Collection method

Transportation of the fish samples to lab

Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh KaranatakaAlwarkurichi Kolleru West Godhavari Krishnaraj Sagar Reservoir

Ariyakulam Chinna tumbalam tank Tailur kere

Avalpoodurai Nandalur tank Salagaon village tank

Gundur big tank Draksha Rama Bannur

Kappalure Uppalapadu Guntur Tumkur

Koothapar big tank Jataprole Rarandur Kere

Kunnathur Madurai Kazipet tank Nagavalli Amanikere

Mappedu Mandhyal Tank Mandakhalli-kere

Palli karanai Marsh Jankam pet Karigala Kere

R.S. Mangalam   Samundar talab

Suchindaram   Heche

Sulur   Cauvery river stretch

Vaduvoor   Marchalli kere

Vandiyur tank    

Vembanur    

Chembarambakam    

List of Wetlands included in this study

SPECIES OF FISHES RECEVIED FROM WETLANDS OF ANDHRA PRADESH

S.No. Name of the species No. of Individuals1 Clarias batrachus 92 Labeo rohita 203 Anabas testudineus 64 Catla catla 135 Tilapia mossambica 96 Cyprinus carpio 97 Channa striatus 88 Channa orientalis 59 Heteropneustes fossilis 810 Cirrhinus mrigala 6  Total 93

SPECIES OF FISHES RECEVIED FROM WETLANDS OF TAMIL NADU

S.No. Fish Count 1 Hypophythalmiethys molitrix 102 Mystus vittatus 193 Tilapia mossambica 674 Cirrhinus mrigala 105 Heteropneustes fossilis 116 Labeo rohita 127 Channa orientalis 128 Channa punctatus 259 Anabas testudineus 15

10 Channa striatus 30  Total 211

SPECIES OF FISHES RECEVIED FROM WETLANDS OF KARNATAKA

S. No. Name of the species No. of individuals1 Anguilla bicolor bicolor 212 Catla catla 113 Channa striatus 114 Cirrhinus mrigala 65 Clarias batrachus 96 Cyprinus carpio 207 Heteropneustes fossilis 118 Labeo rohita 199 Tilapia mossambica 26

  Total 134

On receipt of fish, Physical measurements and other details were

recorded on a datasheet.

Tissues are separated and stored at –20°C for

chemical analyses

Laboratory procedures

Alpha HCHBeta HCHGamma HCHDelta HCHHeptachlorHeptachlor epoxideEndosulfan 1Endosulfan 2Endosulfan sulfatep,p’- DDEp,p’- DDTp,p’- DDDDieldrin

ANALYSIS

Alpha HCHBeta HCHGamma HCHDelta HCHHeptachlorHeptachlor epoxideEndosulfan 1Endosulfan 2Endosulfan sulfatep,p’- DDEp,p’- DDTp,p’- DDDDieldrin

Total organochlorine residues (ppm)-Andhra Pradesh

Draksh

a Ram

a

Janka

m pet

Uppalapad

u

Jatap

role

Kolleru

Kazipet

tank

Mandhya

l Tan

k

Nandalu

r tan

k

Chinna tumbala

m 0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

Con

cent

ratio

n in

ppm

Clarias

batrac

hus

Labeo

rohita

Anabas

testu

dineus

Catla c

atla

Tilap

ia moss

ambica

Cyprin

us carp

io

Channa s

triatu

s

Channa o

riental

is

Hetero

pneuste

s foss

ilis

Cirrhinus m

rigala

00.005

0.010.015

0.020.025

0.030.035

RESULTS

SPECIES

WETLANDS

Total organochlorine residues (ppm) -Tamil Nadu

Kappalu

re

Gundur big ta

nk

Vaduvo

orSulur

R.S. Man

galam

Alwark

urichi

Mapped

u

Vandiyu

r tan

k

Kunnathur M

adurai

Koothapar

big tank

Avalpoodurai

Suchindara

m

Ariyak

ulam

Palli k

aranai

Marsh

Vemban

ur

Chembarm

bakam

Singanall

ur

Theroor c

omplex0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

Con

cent

ratio

n in

ppm

Hypophthalm

icthys

molitr

ix

Mystus v

ittatus

Tilapia

mossam

bica

Cirrhinus m

rigala

Hetero

pneuste

s foss

ilis

Labeo

rohita

Channa o

riental

is

Channa puncta

tus

Anabas te

studineu

s

chan

na stri

atus

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

Con

cent

ratio

n in

ppm

RESULTS Con..

WETLANDS

SPECIES

Total organochlorine residues (ppm) - Karnataka

Heche

Mandak

halli-k

ere

Nagav

alli A

manike

re

Tumku

r

Krishnara

j Sag

ar

Salagao

n villa

ge tan

k

Cauve

ry riv

er str

etch

Samundar

talab

Bannur

Tailu

r kere

Rarandur K

ere

Marchall

i kere

karig

ala Kere

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

Con

cent

ratio

n in

ppm

Hetero

pneuste

s foss

ilis

Cirrhinus m

rigala

Cyprin

us carp

io

Catla c

atla

Channa s

triatu

s

Tilap

ia moss

ambica

Clarias

batrac

hus

Labeo

rohita

Anguilla bico

lor bico

lor0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

Con

cent

ratio

n in

ppm

WETLANDS

SPECIES

Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Tami Nadu0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

Variation in total organochlorine residues

Impact on the consumers?

How safe are the fishes for human consumption ?

If a person consumes 250 g of fish per week, what would be the Daily Dietary Intake of organochlorine pesticide?

SUITABILITY FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Name of the pesticide C.punctatus C.striatus C.mrigala H. fossilis L.rohita

BHC 3.13 4.68 3.21 0.57 4.77

DDT 0.61 1.11 1.23 0.82 0.38

Dieldrin 0.03 0.00 0.14 0.07 0.12

Heptachlor 0.94 0.11 0.50 1.15 0.66

Chloridane 0.65 1.91 0.09 0.78 0.19

Endrin 2.88 2.21 0.52 7.01 0.45

Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) Limits for pesticide [ug/person(60Kg)]

Pesticide Statutory agencies

Total DDT

Total HCH

Dieldrin

Endosulfan

Heptachlor epoxide

300

18

6

450

60

FAO/WHO 1971

Health Canada, 1996

(IARC)*

FAO/WHO 1971

FAO/WHO 1971

Concentration

in ug

* International Agency for Research on Cancer

Residues of one or more persistent pesticides were detected in fishes (100 %) from all

wetlands

HCH isomers were detected about 80 % of the fishes

Heptachlor epoxide (78%)

Endosulfan (66%)

DDT and its homologs (p,p’-constituents) were measured in 76 % of fishes

Inference

These pesticides are termed as endocrine disruptors, known to elicit their adverse effects by mimicking or antagonizing natural hormones in the body which are responsible for maintaining and controlling the normal development.

Although, pesticide concentrations measured in fishes from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are safe for human consumption if the same concentrations continue to exit, in long run they will exert toxic effects.

UNDP

MOEF

SACON

and

State co-coordinators

AcknowledgmentsWe are grateful to

KARNATAKA

Naveein, O.CBangalore – 560 046. Mr. K. Manu,Mandya Dist.

Vijay Mohan Raj,Deputy Conservator of Forests, Gadag,

Mr. Gurunath Desai,31, Ashok Nagar,

K. Raghothama Rao, SEEK Foundation,Bangalore 560 019,

Mr. S. Sreevatsa,Bustard Nature Club,Raichur 584 101.

Mr. Manjunath Hegde,Hosabale 577 434,

Mr. Ameen Ahmed,Wildlife Aware Nature Club,Tumkur 572 101.

Mr. P.D.Sudarshan,Soil Health Centre,

Uttara Kannada District.

TAMIL NADU

Dr. M.ArunachalamAlwarkurichi

Dr T Badhri NarayananMadurai - 625 020

Dr. Robert B. GrubhNagarcoil -629003

Dr.K.ThiyagesanMayiladuthurai - 609 305

Mr Daniel Wesley, HTiruchirapalli – 620017

Dr.K. Sampath,Chidambaram 608 001.

Dr. RJ. Ranjit Daniels,Chennai – 600061

Mr. Preston Ahimaz,Chennai 600 018.

Dr. V. Kalaiarasan,Chennai 600 022.

Dr. V. KrishnamurthyChennai 600 114

Dr. S. Balachandran,Kanyakumari Dt.

ANDHRA PRADESH

Aasheesh PittieHyderabad 500034

Dr V. Vasudeva RaoHyderabad 500030

Dr B.V. Seshagiri RaoBhimavaram 534202

Siraj A. TaherHyderabad 500034

Mr. S. Sreevatsa,Raichur 584 101.

Rajeev MathewHyderabad 500082

K. Mrutyumjaya RaoKakinada

Sushil KapadiaHyderabad 500082

Dr C. SrinivasuluHyderabad 500007

S. Ashok KumarHyderabad 500033

Dr V. SantharamMadanapalli

Kiran K.Hyderabad

RajashekarSecunderabad 500017

State –coordinators1. Mr S A Hussain

(Karnataka)

2. Mr Aasheesh Pittie (Andhra Pradeh

3. Dr RJ Ranjit Daniels(Tamil Nadu)