Abstract

Mitidja Plain, located in the North of Algeria, is considered as the most important agricultural area of Algeria, where pesticides are widely used. This study assesses pesticides occurrence in the groundwater beneath Mouzaïa situated in the west of Mitidja. In 6 selected sampling points, 5 pesticides belonging to different chemical families: oganophosphorus (Malathion, Parathion), organochlorines (DDT and Aldrine) and triazines (simazine); were analyzed using GC-MS techniques preceded by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) or solid phase extraction (SPE). To identify the subject in its environmental setting, analysis of physicochemical parameters in groundwater and soil samples from study area were also carried out. Results of analysis of those parameters demonstrated the good quality of water and soil samples only rates of phosphates in soil were high up to 300 ppm due probably to fertilizers use. Aldrin, Simazine, and Parathion weren’t detected in groundwater samples due to the low use of these pesticides in the study area; whereas DDT, even if it’s banned for use in Algeria for years, was detected in one sample which demonstrates its high persistence in the environment. Malathion which was detected in all groundwater samples reached high concentrations that reached 0.96 µg/L, exceeding the current drinking water quality limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Key words: Solid phase extraction, groundwater, physicochemical parameters, pesticides.