Assessment of organochlorine pesticides in different seaweed species of Thoothukudi coast, Tamil Nadu, South India

Five species of macroalgae, namely Sargassum wightii, Padina tetrastromatica, Ulva lactuca, Caulerpa racemosa and Gracilaria edulis collected from three sampling sites, viz. Harbour Beach (site 1), Tharuvaikkulam 2) Hare Island 3), situated along the Thoothukudi region Gulf Mannar were analysed for 17 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to assess their suitability as biomonitors pesticide contamination. The total OCP concentrations several folds higher in all macroalgae site 1 than other two sites. Brown alga S. wightii accumulated more OCPs (297 ng g-1) sampled algal 1. assessed this study endrin aldehyde (51 g-1), (48 β hexachlorocyclohexane (45 heptachlor epoxide (43 dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (37 endosulfan sulfate (11 wightii. It was observed that green C. had selective sorption I red G. II (44 g-1). ability seaweeds accumulate found be specific not class specific. indicated could used a biomonitor residues marine environment, with exception endosulfan. Keywords: Endosulfan, Macroalgae, OCPs, Pesticides