Toxicity Evaluation of Pesticide Industry Wastewater through Fish Bioassay

Abstract

Besides pesticides contamination from agricultural field, the agricultural industries are also contributing by relatively high quantities of toxic pesticides into the environment. Considering the high pollution potential of the Pesticide formulation industry which is one of the main point sources of water pollution, toxicity study was conducted. In this study, the toxicity of the wastewater before and after preliminary treatment is checked using fish bioassay on Lebistus reticulate, with the analysis of physicochemical parameters and OCPs concentration. The results indicated exceeding values of the physicochemical parameters than the guideline values (CPCB). Wastewater exerted more toxicity due to the presence of high OCPs i.e. 1.719 mg/l; equally sulphide concentration was 17.60 mg/l which is also higher compared to stipulated standard of 2.0 mg/l, which causes odor to the surrounding environment. It also contained oil/grease up to 80 mg/l. Treated wastewater was also detected with the concentration (0.587 mg/l) of OCPs higher than the standard values prescribed by CPCB for the pesticide industry effluent discharge. The study inferred that raw wastewater was very toxic to the fish Lebistus reticulate whereas, preliminary treatment to the effluent had reduced toxicity to certain extent, but it doesn’t solve a purpose and hence needs correction in the pretreatment method.