Contamination of pond and canal water by residues of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides in Feni district, Bangladesh

To prevent pest attack, several types of pesticides are extensively used in Bangladesh's agriculture sectors since the last few years. The pesticide residues eventually drain out to the nearby water bodies and contaminate the aquatic environment. Considering this issue, the current research was intended for detecting the organophosphorus (diazinon, malathion and chlorpyrifos) and carbamate (carbofuran and carbaryl) pesticide remnants in the surface water bodies in the Feni district of Bangladesh. Twenty-five water samples were collected from the selected irrigation canals and fishing ponds to analyze the pesticide residues through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Diazinon compound of the organophosphorus group was found in 20% of analyzed samples and concentration ranged from 0.320 to 0.631 μg/L. From carbamate group, carbofuran and carbaryl were identified in 32% and 12% of water samples, where the ranges of concentrations were 0.546–4.820 μg/L and 0.095–0.714 μg/L, respectively. Hence, the significant concentrations of diazinon, carbofuran, and carbaryl pesticide residues in water bodies are a severe concern for the aquatic ecosystem and public health issues. It could be recommended that the indiscriminate use of pesticides should be controlled by enforcing legal protocols and promoting bio-pesticides or other eco-friendly products.