Occurrence and Distribution of Persistent Trace Organics in Rainwater in an Urban Region (India)

The rainwater samples collected from the Lucknow city (India) were analyzed for selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). HCH-isomers contributed most to the ΣOCPs with the highest levels of β-HCH isomer. The OCPs, which are currently banned in the country, were also observed. The residue levels of ΣOCPs in rainwater samples ranged between BDL and 447.17 ng L⁻¹. Endrin, β-endosulfan, heptachlor epoxide B and methoxychlor could not be detected in any of the sample. The levels of ΣPAHs in rainwater samples ranged between 19.32 and 11,112.09 ng L⁻¹ and the most abundant hydrocarbon was acenaphthylene. Further, the lower molecular weight PAHs dominated over the high molecular weight compounds.