Pollution Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) Residues in Sediments and Water of Kafrein and Shuieb Dams

Contamination levels and spatial distribution of the benchmark organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) pollutants were quantified for the first time in sediments, water, grass, and algae of both Shueib (SH) and Kafrein (K) dams located in the Jordan Valley catchment. The results indicated that the total average OCPs concentration in both dam samples was in the order sediments &gt;vegetation&gt; water. The Ʃ OCPs results for sediments ranged from 4.16 ± 0.04 ng/g (d.w) for K-7 to 48.45 ± 0.66 ng/g (d.w) for SH-7. The Shueib dam was contaminated more with OCPs than Kafrein dam, with OCPs total average concentration of 20.09 ± 2.69 ng/g (d.w) and 7.98 ± 1.11 ng/g (d.w) respectively with <i>p,p’</i>-DDE, <i>p,p’</i>-DDD, <i>o,p’</i>-DDT and heptachlor with the highest percent occurrences in all sediments. The OCPs concentrations in sediments correlated positively with the percent organic matter content, and in water samples with the bicarbonate concentration. The OCPs spatial distribution analysis showed that sediment samples from the middle/middle area sides of Shueib dam show the greatest levels of OCPs concentrations, while for the Kafrein dam the highest concentrations were toward the upstream of the dam based on bottom dam structure and nearby pollution resources. OCPs residual concentrations for most sediments and water samples were above threshold limits according to (2000/60/EC) and WHO guidelines, respectively. The intended use of the water beds in irrigation and farming activities could be posing ecological and heath risks for the population.