Degradation of Lindane by Sludge Enriched on Mixed Commercial Formulations of Organophosphate and Pyrethroid Pesticides

Among all classes of synthetic pesticides, organochlorines have found indiscriminate applications in the last century. DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) were the major OCP (organochlorine pesticides) used by many developed and developing countries. Lindane (HCH) and DDT were detected in the water, sediments and biota of certain provinces in China even after 30 years of their ban (Grung et al., 2015). According to an estimate by Weber et al. (2008), approximately 6 million tonnes of HCH isomers have been dumped into the environment. Vankarand Sahu (2011) have detected the average lindane levels of 10.03 ppm in a study conducted near the HCH dumping site by an HCH manufacturing unit in the Lucknow district (Uttar Pradesh state) of India. Lindane has been a causative agent to many health problems including respiratory disorders (Simonich and Hites, 1995; ATSDR, 2005; Ye et al., 2013). GABA neurotransmitter is influenced by lindane, affecting the vital organs like liver, kidney and the nervous system (Agrawal International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 5 Number 5 (2016) pp. 138-152 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com