Residue Levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) in the Aquatic Environment of the Drainage Canal at Damietta Governorate, Egypt

The levels of some POPs in the aquatic environment of the drainage canal surrounding a pesticide factory at Damietta Governorate were monitored during 2000 - 2001. HCH isomers, o, p -DDT, p, p -DDT, p, p -DDE, o, p -DDD, p, p -DDD, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin and heptachlor epoxide were detected in most samples. In water samples, the total HCH reached the highest levels of 799 and 819 ppb in winter 2001. The total DDT reached 1259 ppb in winter 2001, aldrin reached 715 ppb in summer 2000, dieldrin reached 95 ppb (winter 2001), endrin reached 169 ppb (spring 2000) and heptachlor epoxide reached 243 ppb (winter 2000). Generally, site 3 (old airport) was the most polluted region in most seasons. In sediments, the highest values of a-HCH, (3-HCH and y-HCH were reached in samples collected from site 1 (the end of the drainage canal) in winter 2001. The amounts of o, p -DDT recovered reached 2 ppb (spring 2000), p, p -DDE reached 3 ppb (winter 2001), aldrin reached 5 ppb (winter 2001), and heptachlor epoxide reached 5 ppb (winter 2001). However, p, p -DDT reached 57 ppb (winter 2000), p, p -DDD reached 674 ppb (winter 2000). In contrast, o, p -DDD, dieldrin and endrin were not detected in most analyzed samples. The residue levels of POPs in fish tissues were varied, ranging from undetectable to 62 ppb for HCH isomers during spring 2000. The highest residue level of o, p -DDD was found to be 9 ppb in samples collected from site 2 (Mogawra) during winter 2000. However, o, p -DDT was detected only in samples collected in spring 2000 at levels of 1 and 2 ppb.