Organochlorine pesticide residues in foodstuffs, fish, wildlife, and human tissues from India: Historical trend and contamination Status

Abstract

Ever since people started utilizing natural resources, environmental quality started to deteriorate. Deterioration of the quality of these resources affects human health and well-being and therefore becomes a threat to human security. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants relevant due to their high toxicity and potential carcinogenicity. These contaminants are considered to be hazardous to aquatic organisms, fish, birds, and humans. Varying levels of these pesticides have been reported in different segments of the ecosystem including humans. Health damage to fish and wildlife has prompted concern about the health effects of these contaminants on humans. It has been found that a greater amount of total intake of these contaminants in human beings is through consumption of contaminated food. A number of abnormalities seen in the reproductive system of various wildlife species can be correlated with similar abnormalities on the rise in the human population. Exposure to these pollutants also suppresses the immune system, thereby increasing the risk of acquiring several diseases. Temporal trends examined by comparing the results of previous studies on OCP levels in the Indian environment revealed a decline in the trend of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) in some parts of the natural environment. In contrast, very high concentrations were detected in biotic samples. Continuous monitoring and epidemiological studies of OCP levels in humans are warranted. In this chapter, we outline the environmental and human health problems associated with pesticide contamination. To our knowledge, this is the first report to present the residue levels of persistent OCPs in fish, wildlife, and human tissues from India.