Agricultural-Derived organochlorine pesticide residues impact on macroinvertebrate community in an Afrotropical Stream

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of pesticide application through agriculture activities in Chanchaga , River, Nigeria, using macroinvertebrate data sets obtained for six months (September 2021-February 2022). Four (4) stations, characterized by various agricultural activities were sampled along the river. Analysis of the water samples for organochlorine pesticide residues (OCP) using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) at the peak of the two seasons revealed a high concentration of eleven isomers of organochlorine, which ranged from 0.01 to 0.81 ug/L, and a mean concentration that was above international drinking water standards set by the World Health Organization, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the European Union. The mean concentration of detected OCP was recorded as DDT (0.72 ug/L), Dieldrin (0.59 ug/L). Paraquat (0.54 ug/L), Aldrin (0.49 ug/L), Metribuzin (0.48 ug/L), Butachlor (0.47 ug/L), Alachlor (0.28 ug/L), Atrazine, (0.23 ug/L), Phenol (0.10 ug/L), Endrin (0.09 ug/L), and Benzene (0.08 ug/L). Atrazine, alachlor, metribuzin, aldrin, phenol, and endrin showed significant differences across the two seasons (p < 0.05), while dieldrin, butachlor, paraquat benzene, and DDT showed no significant differences across the two seasons (p > 0.05). A total of 622 macroinvertebrate individuals from 19 species in 18 families from 8 orders were collected. More individuals were collected during the dry season (58.17% and the wet season (41.83%). Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) ordination revealed a strong relationship between species abundance and some organochlorine pesticide residues such as DDT, endrin, metribuzin, atrazine, benzene, and dieldrin. The response of macroinvertebrates to OGP indicates that Chanchaga River is a disturbed river, and the indicator organisms (Lestes sp., Coenagrion sp,, Zyxomma sp, Appasus sp,,Chironomus sp,, Lymnaea natalensis, and Caridina nililotica) can also be used for further biomonitoring.