Occurrence of organochlorine pesticide residues in green mussel (Perna viridis L.) and water from Ennore creek, Chennai, India.

Green mussel (Perna viridis) and water samples were collected from Ennore creek, Chennai by seasonal sampling and analyzed for organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPs) like dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and endosulfan. These residues were analyzed by using gas chromatograph (GC) with microECD. In the present study, mussel samples showed very low concentrations of OCPs in the statistical order of DDT (5.83 ng g(-1) wet tissue)>endosulfan (2.84 ng g(-1) wet tissue)>HCH (2.34 ng g(-1) wet tissue). Concentrations of OCPs in water samples were in the statistical order of endosulfan (29.21 ng L(-1))>HCH (17.14 ng L(-1))>DDT (14.63 ng L(-1)). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the seasonal variation of OCPs and especially the quantification of endosulfan in Ennore Creek. The present study recommends that continuous monitoring in Ennore creek is necessary to assess possible impact on human health.