Subir Kumar Nag

Phototransformation of alphacypermethrin as thin film on glass and soil surface.

Photodegradation of alphacypermethrin ((RS)-α cyano-3-phenoxy benzyl (1RS) cis-3-(2,2,dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropane carboxylate) was studied as a thin film on glass surface and on black and red soil surfaces. A number of photoproducts from glass surfaces have been isolated, characterized and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). However, only two of them viz. 3-phenoxy benzyl alcohol and [2,2-dichlorovinyl-3(2,2,dimethyl) cyclopropane carboxylate] could be identified from both the soil. Rate of photodegradation on glass and soil surface under UV and sunlight followed first order kinetics with significant correlation coefficients. The rate of photodegradation was greater on black than on red soil. *A part of Ph.D. thesis of the first author in the Department of Chemistry submitted to the Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, U.P., India.

Persistent organochlorine pesticide residue in tissues and blood of goat

The production commensurate with the demand for animal products including meat is increasing due to urbanization and increase in per capita income. However, meat and meat products meant for human consumption should also be safe and free from toxic contaminants. Presence of any xenobiotics in human food web is undesirable and unacceptable particularly in the wake of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and strict regulations imposed by many countries on the ground of safety of health of the consumers. In the present study, certain organochlorinated pesticide (OCP) residues in tissues and in blood samples of goat were determined. All samples were analysed for residues of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) isomers and metabolites, endosulfan isomers and metabolite, aldrin, heptachlor and dicofol. The tissue samples were extracted in soxhlet with hexane-acetone (1:1) and cleaned up by florisil column chromatography. The analysis was performed in capillary gas chromatograph equipped with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The result indicated that 40% tissue samples were contaminated with HCH residues, while DDT and endosulfan were present in 32% samples. In blood samples, no HCH residue could be detected, but DDT and endosulfan were present in 10% and 30% samples, respectively.