S. MURALIDHARAN

1
PERSISTENT ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN
FISHES OF INLAND WETLAND OF SOUTH INDIA
S. MURALIDHARAN V. DHANANJAYAN
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
2
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.
3
Pesticide consumption pattern in various states
of India
4
Pesticides are the ubiquitous contaminants
Fishes, Birds and Humans are the worst victims
5
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).
6
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.
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OBJECTIVES

• 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).

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Fishes - Ideal indicators?

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

9
STATES INCLUDED FOR THIS STUDY
Karanataka Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh
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Collection method
11
Transportation of the fish samples to lab
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List of Wetlands included in this study
Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Karanataka
Alwarkurichi 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    
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SPECIES OF FISHES RECEVIED FROM WETLANDS OF
ANDHRA PRADESH
S.No. Name of the species No. of Individuals
1 Clarias batrachus 9
2 Labeo rohita 20
3 Anabas testudineus 6
4 Catla catla 13
5 Tilapia mossambica 9
6 Cyprinus carpio 9
7 Channa striatus 8
8 Channa orientalis 5
9 Heteropneustes fossilis 8
10 Cirrhinus mrigala 6
  Total 93
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SPECIES OF FISHES RECEVIED FROM WETLANDS OF
TAMIL NADU
S.No. Fish Count
1 Hypophythalmiethys molitrix 10
2 Mystus vittatus 19
3 Tilapia mossambica 67
4 Cirrhinus mrigala 10
5 Heteropneustes fossilis 11
6 Labeo rohita 12
7 Channa orientalis 12
8 Channa punctatus 25
9 Anabas testudineus 15
10 Channa striatus 30
  Total 211
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SPECIES OF FISHES RECEVIED FROM WETLANDS OF
KARNATAKA
S. No. Name of the species No. of individuals
1 Anguilla bicolor bicolor 21
2 Catla catla 11
3 Channa striatus 11
4 Cirrhinus mrigala 6
5 Clarias batrachus 9
6 Cyprinus carpio 20
7 Heteropneustes fossilis 11
8 Labeo rohita 19
9 Tilapia mossambica 26
  Total 134
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Laboratory procedures
On receipt of fish, Physical measurements and
other details were recorded on a datasheet.
Tissues are separated and stored at 20C for
chemical analyses
Alpha HCH Beta HCH Gamma HCH Delta
HCH Heptachlor Heptachlor epoxide Endosulfan
1 Endosulfan 2 Endosulfan sulfate p,p-
DDE p,p- DDT p,p- DDD Dieldrin
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Alpha HCH Beta HCH Gamma HCH Delta
HCH Heptachlor Heptachlor epoxide Endosulfan
1 Endosulfan 2 Endosulfan sulfate p,p-
DDE p,p- DDT p,p- DDD Dieldrin
ANALYSIS
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RESULTS
Total organochlorine residues (ppm)-Andhra
Pradesh
WETLANDS
SPECIES
19
Total organochlorine residues (ppm) -Tamil Nadu
RESULTS Con..
WETLANDS
SPECIES
20
Total organochlorine residues (ppm) - Karnataka
WETLANDS
SPECIES
21
Variation in total organochlorine residues
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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?
Impact on the consumers?
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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
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Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) Limits for
pesticide ug/person(60Kg)
Pesticide
Statutory agencies
Concentration in ug
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
International Agency for Research on Cancer
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Inference

• 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

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• 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.

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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to
UNDP MOEF SACON and State co-coordinators
Save Wetlands Ensure Future
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TAMIL NADU Dr. M.Arunachalam Alwarkurichi Dr T
Badhri Narayanan Madurai - 625 020 Dr. Robert B.
Grubh Nagarcoil -629003 Dr.K.Thiyagesan Mayiladut
hurai - 609 305 Mr Daniel Wesley,
H Tiruchirapalli 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.
Krishnamurthy Chennai 600 114 Dr. S.
Balachandran, Kanyakumari Dt.
KARNATAKA Naveein, O.C Bangalore 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.
ANDHRA PRADESH Aasheesh Pittie Hyderabad
500034 Dr V. Vasudeva Rao Hyderabad
500030 Dr B.V. Seshagiri Rao Bhimavaram
534202 Siraj A. Taher Hyderabad 500034 Mr.
S. Sreevatsa, Raichur 584 101. Rajeev
Mathew Hyderabad 500082 K. Mrutyumjaya
Rao Kakinada Sushil Kapadia Hyderabad
500082 Dr C. Srinivasulu Hyderabad 500007 S.
Ashok Kumar Hyderabad 500033
Dr V. Santharam Madanapalli Kiran
K. Hyderabad Rajashekar Secunderabad 500017

• State coordinators
• Mr S A Hussain (Karnataka)
• Mr Aasheesh Pittie (Andhra Pradeh
• Dr RJ Ranjit Daniels(Tamil Nadu)

Thank you