solid phase extraction of organochlorine pesticides residues in groundwater (akkar plain, north lebanon)

due to the uncensored use of pesticides in the agricultural regions of lebanon, the contaminationrisks of drinking water by organic residues increase periodically in planting seasons. no previous work havebeen considered in north lebanon plain concerning pesticide pollution though it is the second agriculturalzone in lebanon with an excessive activity. in this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate thecontamination and to map the pollution level of groundwater by organochlorine pesticides in northern lebanon.solid-phase extraction (spe) cartridge embedded with hydrophilic-lipophilic-balanced (hlb) copolymerwere used for the isolation and trace enrichment of pesticide from water samples followed by gas chromatographycoupled with mass spectrometry (gc/ms) to quantify pesticide concentrations. the levels of organochlorinepesticide recorded in groundwater of akkar district exceeded the limits set by the stockholm convention onpersistent organic pollutants with total amounts that can reach 14.2 μg/l. contamination was also found to bemore important inland with the frequent presence of banned pesticide such hch isomers, 4,4’-ddt, aldrinand endrin. appropriate remedial measures and systematic investigation of organochlorine residues in waterresources of the akkar district are necessary to check further aggravation of the situation.