National Reference Trace Organics Laboratory
IMPORTANT PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN
MEASUREMENT OF HAZARDOUS ORGANIC COMPOUNDS - DIOXIN (PCDDs) AND
FURAN (PCDFs) IN ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES
Polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDFs)
are environmental contaminants usually present in diverse environmental matrices. Out of
total 75 PCDD congeners and 135 PCDF congeners, 7 PCDD congeners and 10 PCDF
congeners are known for their considerable toxicity. These congeners are monitored as per
internationally practiced convention in various environmental matrices, which may vary from
sub ppt level and may reach upto ppm level.
Dioxin
Furan
Under the purview of project, continuous development of infrastructure and various sub
activities as below are being undertaken:
Monitoring of Dioxin – Furan Levels in Stationary Source Emission
There has been great concern about dioxins - polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs),
polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)-causing
contamination in the environment because the adverse effects of these chemicals on human
health have been known for many years. Possible dioxin-contamination has received much
attention recently not only by environmental scientists but also by the public, because
dioxins are known to be formed during the combustion of industrial and domestic wastes and
to escape into the environment via exhaust gases from Stationary Source Emissions
particularly Waste Incinerators.
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For regulatory purposes there are the need to investigate the formation mechanisms or
reaction pathways of these chlorinated chemicals to be able to devise ways to reduce their
environmental contamination
The monitoring of Dioxin – Furan levels in stationary emission sources of waste treatment
facilities and industrial processes are undertaken as and when requested by other divisions
of CPCB, various State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees etc.
Source Emission Monitoring for Dioxin & Furan at Waste Incinerator Stacks
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Source Emission Monitoring for Dioxin & Furan (Close View)
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Monitoring of Dioxin / Furan levels in Ambient Air of Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs)
Central Pollution Control Board has monitored Dioxin (PCDDs / Furan (PCDFs) levels in
ambient air of twenty Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) as below in the country with active
involvement of its concerned Zonal offices.
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Polyurethane Sampler (PUF) Sampler
Monitoring of Dioxin / Furan levels in Ambient Air of Delhi in selected four NAMP
Stations
Central Pollution Control Board is monitoring Dioxin (PCDDs / Furan (PCDFs) levels is
ambient air of Delhi at four selected NAMP stations Four quarter yearly sampling are carried
out by using PUF HVS for 24 hrs.
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Soxhlet Extractor
Rotary Vacuum Evaporator
Dioxin Furan Samples Extraction & Concentration
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Dioxin Furan Extracted Sample Clean-up
Monitoring of Dioxin / Furan levels in Ambient Air of selected two Municipal Waste
Dump site in Delhi
Central Pollution Control Board has monitored Dioxin (PCDDs / Furan (PCDFs) levels in
ambient air of two selected municipal waste dump sites i.e. Bhalaswa Municipal Waste
Dump site and Ghazipur Municipal Waste Dump site in Delhi. Four quarter yearly sampling
are carried out by using PUF HVS for 24 hrs.
Bhalsawa Municipal Waste Dump Site
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Ghazipur Municipal Solid Waste Dump Site
MONITORING OF MICROPOLLUTANTS (PESTICIDES AND HEAVY METALS) IN
WATER AND SEDIMENTS OF RIVER GANGA
Monitoring and assessment of micropollutants has been limited to pesticides and heavy
metals. The most common types of pesticides being used for agriculture and horticulture are
herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and bactericides. Pesticides being used in agriculture for
pests control diseases and also used in health sector for controlling vector borne diseases
like malaria, dengue, encephalitis, filariasis, etc.
Literature suggest that there is decreasing trend of reported pesticides in Ganga River water.
Recently, Mutiyar and Mittal (2013) carried out water sampling in the year 2010-11 at Ganga
River locations from Devprayag (Uttarakhand) to Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). They have
reported trace concentration of ∑HCH, ∑DDT, ∑Endosulphan, Aldrin and Heptachlor in
water samples from Ganga River. However, the studies of Ganga River regarding
comprehensive status of several other pesticides are lacking. Similarly, there are only few
recent studies available on the status of heavy metals in Ganga River, in which only few
selective metals have been reported.
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Central Pollution Control Board has initiated the monitoring of micropollutants (pesticides +
Trace Heavy Metals) in water and sediments of River Ganga at all the predetermined
sampling locations, form Gangotri to Ganga Sagar. The monitoring had been carried out at
21 locations on Ganga River of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh stretch up to downstream of
Kanpur, and Bihar and West Bengal stretch being studied in collaboration with Bihar State
Pollution Control Board and West Bengal Pollution Control Board
MEASUREMENT OF SELECTIVE POPs IN AMBIENT AIR OF URBAN AND RURAL
AREAS
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that originate from manmade sources associated with the production, use, and disposal of certain organic
chemicals, produced commercially for pest and disease control, crop production and
industrial use. They are known for their persistence, bioaccumulation, potential for long
range environmental transport (through air, water or migratory species) and for adverse
effect on environment and human health.
The follow up of Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants during May,
2001, member countries including India signed a treaty for urgent actions to reduce
and eliminate the releases of Persistent Organic chemicals to the global
environment. The Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants came into
force on 17th May 2004, and initially 12 POPs had been listed as 'Dirty Dozen'. In
May, 2009, and 2011, 9 new POPs and later one more POPs (Endosulphan) have
been included to the list for priority action. Thus, twenty two chemicals (12 initial 10
new) have been so far recognized as POPs for global action against their adverse
effect on humans and the ecosystem.
Central Pollution Control Board has been undertaking Monitoring of POPs pesticides
in ambient air in urban and rural areas
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STANDARDIZATION
OF
METHODOLOGY
FOR
DETERMINATION
OF
PHARMACEUTICALS
AND
PERSONAL
CARE
PRODUCTS
(PPCPs)
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES BY LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPH – TANDEM MASS
SPECTROMETRY Emerging environmental pollutants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)
have attracted much public attention. PPCPs are biologically active compounds that are
designed to interact with specific pathways and processes in target humans and animals.
There are global reports that surface water from lakes, streams, aquifers and municipal
supplies across have been found contaminated by trace quantities of PPCP residues.
Several pharmaceutical compounds are used primarily to prevent or treat diseases and to
improve the quality of human life. There might be excreted by patients and/or be improperly
disposed by the users and thus, eventually found their ways into the aquatic environment,
and the fate, transport and potential adverse effects on aquatic environment and biota have
been delineated. There has been increasing awareness about the potential effects of active
PPCPs in the environment on human and environmental health. During past two decades,
there has been increasing awareness about occurrence, fate, effects, and risks of PPCPs in
the environment. Regulations are also being developed regarding assessment of risks of
environmental exposure to PPCPs.
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are generally released into surface
waters or enter terrestrial systems. They may also be released to the environment from the
manufacturing sites.
TQS-Micro LC-MS-MS Tandem Mass used for PPCP Analysis
The prominent method for analysis of PPCPs is based on liquid chromatography (LC) - mass
spectrometry (MS) or tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection with improvised
sensitivity. Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) will be used for sample preparation as it is
especially well suited to multi-residue analysis of compounds.
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METHODOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARDIZATION OF TRACE ORGANICS
PARAMETERS (CARBAMATES) AS PER NOTIFICATION UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT
(PROTECTION) ACT, 1986 (ONGOING)
Carbamate pesticides are widely used in agriculture, as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides,
nematocides, or sprout inhibitors. Their mode of action is inhibition of cholinesterase
enzymes, affecting nerve impulse transmission. The commonly registered carbamate
pesticides for use in India are Aldicarb, Carbaryl, Diuron, Captan, Carbofuran, Fenobucarb,
Methiocarb, Methomyl and Thiodicarb. Chromatographic methods have been usually applied
for the determination of carbamates in environmental and food samples. Capillary HPLC
method may be more suitable method with better resolution, lower detection limit and lower
solvent consumption and being more environmentally friendly. In this sense, a relatively low
sensitive detector as UV/Vis could be used for detecting these compounds with higher
sensitivity.
High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC-DAD) used for Carbamates Analysis
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs) MEASUREMENT IN GROUND/SURFACE
WATER SAMPLES BY PURGE AND TRAP GC-MS FROM CRITICALLY POLLUTED
AREAS
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) readily evaporate at normal air temperature. The most
common sources of VOCs in water include gasoline and fuel oils from leaking tanks and
spills; solvents, paints, pigments, and dyes from leaking tanks and improper waste storage
and disposal; leaching of chemicals from atmospheric deposition of automotive and
industrial emissions; and residuals from well disinfection.US-EPA had listed 68 most
common VOCs for monitoring ground water contamination from the known sources. These
68 VOCs cover a wide range of chemical compounds that have different chemical and
physical properties and levels of toxicity. Chlorinated VOCs are associated with commercial
and industrial use and include dozens of chemicals that are typically very mobile, persistent,
and toxic in the environment. Non-chlorinated VOCs are associated with gasoline, fuel oils,
and Industrial Solvents.
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.
Gas Chromatograph- Mass Spectrometer with Purge & Trap System
GC-MS Chromatogram for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
The study included monitoring and assessment of about 43 Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) in ground water and surface water samples collected from sampling locations from
selected Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) in the country by Purge & Trap pre-concentration
technique followed by GC-MS analysis. The Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) were
Ankleshwar and Vapi in Gujarat; Ghaziabad and Singrauli in Uttar Pradesh; Korba in
Chhattisgarh; Ludhiana in Punjab, Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, Chandrapur in Maharashtra,
Talchar in Odisha and Vellore in Tamil Nadu.
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ASSESSMENT OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANT RESIDUES (POP’s) IN HUMAN
POPULATION OF DELHI WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ADVERSE HEALTH
EFFECTS AND MORBIDITY (COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH UCMS AND GTB
HOSPITAL)
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are most dangerous amongst all the pollutants
released to the environment, because of human activities. The POPs persists in the
environment at very low levels and linked to many health and environmental effects. Most of
the organo-chlorine pesticides are persistent toxic contaminant having long half-life and
tendency to accumulate in fatty tissues. The organo-chlorine pesticides
are highly
hazardous chemicals, their widespread use makes these available in food chain and
absorbed in human body through skin, inhalation, oral and placental routes.
The organo-chlorine pesticides can interfere in normal endocrine system, resulting into
reproductive disorders and breast cancers. The OCPs exposure in human being can result
into health problems such as birth defects like preterm and low birth weight babies, nerve
damage, breast and prostate cancer, The study had been undertaken as collaborative
project by Central Pollution Control Board with University College of Medical Sciences
(UCMS) to generate epidemiological data and establishment of relative risk / relationship
between the incidence of adverse health outcomes including cancer due to exposure to
pesticides with special reference to organo-chlorine Persistent Organic Pollutants residues
and Poly-chlorinated Biphenyls. The salient objectives of the project was as below:



Determination of blood POPs levels such as organo-chlorine pesticides in infants
with special reference to pre-term and IUGR infants.
Determination of blood POPs levels such as organo-chlorine pesticides,
organochlorine residue levels in children and teenagers of various age groups.
Determination of blood and tissue organo-chlorine and Polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) residue levels in adult and senior citizen populations with special reference to
breast cancer tissue and prostate cancer patients.
The three years study initiated during year 2008-2009, had already been completed and the
report of study has been submitted by UCMS & GTB Hospital during February, 2012 and
presentations on findings has been made by Principal Investigator.
ASSESSMENT OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (PCBs) IN RIVER WATER &
SEDIMENTS OF RIVER YAMUNA IN DELHI STRETCH
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chlorinated organic compounds which in the early to
mid of twentieth century were primarily synthesized for electrical insulation, flame retardation
and sealant as their major applications. Although their manufacture has been banned for
more than three decades now but these compounds are still detected globally in various
environmental matrices in varying concentrations mainly due to their persistent nature, long
range transportation, bio-accumulation and non-biodegradable characteristics.
The project has been undertaken for assessment of toxicologically significant 28 individual
congeners of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in surface water and bottom sediments at
various locations along the stretch of river Yamuna flowing through Delhi region. The study
has been conducted by sampling at the selected locations during four seasons i.e. monsoon
(June – August), post monsoon (September – November), winter (December – February)
and summer (March – May) and analysis of 28 individual PCBs congeners have been
undertaken on GC-ECD.
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MONITORING OF PESTICIDES RESIDUES AT NATIONAL LEVEL - SPONSORED
PROJECT BY MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), Ministry of Agriculture is conducting
national level monitoring of pesticide residue - including Organochlorine pesticides,
organophosphorus pesticides, synthetic pyrethroids and herbicides in agricultural products
and surface water used for irrigation of crops. The project is National level project executed
by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in collaboration with more than 25
laboratories in various parts of the country. About 112 locations of surface water and 100
locations for the Soil Samples have been selected and Monitored in National Capital Region
i.e. Uttar Pradesh (Ghaziabad, Guatam Budh Nagar & Bagpat), Haryana (Sonepat,
Faridabad & Ballabhgarh) and Delhi (Alipur Block, Kanjhawala Block, Najafgarh &
Nizamuddin Bridge). The project includes sampling of water from surface water bodies in
areas having intensive agricultural activities, as well as application of pesticides.
CPCB is one of the executing and participating laboratory in National Project “Monitoring of
Pesticide Residues at National Level”. The expenditure for major equipments, manpower,
travel as well as consumables and contingencies are funded by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The surface water samples being collected from the identified surface water resources in
National Capital Region, subject to utilization in Agricultural irrigation and being analyzed at
National Reference Trace Organics Laboratory at CPCB HQs Delhi. Samples being
processed and analyzed as per the recommended methods by IARI as well as USEPA
methods for surface water. The monthly reports / Annual Reports being submitted to Project
Coordination Cell at IARI, New Delhi.
METHODOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARDIZATION OF TRACE ORGANICS
PARAMETERS (PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS) AS PER NOTIFICATION UNDER
THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986
Under Environment (Protection) Rules 1986, several trace organic pollutants have been
notified as Environmental Standards for various categories of Industries. Phenols and
phenolic compounds are among the most important organic contaminants, owing to their
toxicity and persistent in the environment. Both US Environment Protection Agency (EPA)
and The European Union have included these organics among priority pollutants.
Phenols and phenolic compounds are aromatic hydroxyl compounds classified as
monohydric, dihydric or polyhydric depending on the number of hydroxyl groups attached to
the aromatic benzene ring. These are present in the environment as a result of their uses
and the processes, in which they are implicated. Although they can also be originated
naturally due to the degradation of humic substances, tannins and lignins, however their
discharge from many industrial processes such as production of drugs, textiles, dyes,
pesticides and paper, are the major sources of these compounds in the environment.
Phenols and phenolic compounds are subject to regulations as water pollutants due to their
toxicity. Phenols and their derivatives reveal peroxidative capacity, they are hematotoxic and
hepatotoxic, provoke mutagenesis and carcinogenesis towards humans and other living
organisms. The environmental standards of Phenol and Phenolic compounds have also
been notified under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 for various categories of
industries.
The development and standardization of methodology for measurement of phenols and
phenolic compounds has been undertaken in environmental samples by HPLC/Gas
Chromatographic method.
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High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) for analysis of
Phenol & Phenolic compounds
INTER-LABORATORY PT PARTICIPATION FOR HQS LABORATORY & CPCB ZONAL
OFFICE LABORATORIES
Quality assurance is the definite programme for laboratory operation that specifies the
measures required to produce reliable data of known precision and accuracy. Quality system
which includes quality assurance policies and all quality control processes to ensure the
quality of analytical data produced by the laboratory and to demonstrate the competence of
the laboratory.
To maintain the quality assurance, Central Pollution Control Board Laboratories are
participating in Interlaboratory PT programmes undertaken by various national and
international PT organizers since past several years. The PT participation having coverage
of various physico-chemical, microbiological, metals, chemical, trace organics and air
parameters including dioxin and furan with identified reputed international PT providers
being undertaken for all HQs Laboratories and CPCB Zonal Offices Laboratories.
RECOGNITION OF LABORATORIES UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT,
1986
The laboratories are essential corner stone of any effective pollution control programme. The
analytical laboratories provide qualitative as well as quantitative data for good decisions
making purpose. For generating this valuable data with desired accuracy and to quantify
concentration of the constituents present in the samples, the laboratory should have the
desired facilities and capabilities to achieve the above goal. Under Section 12 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Ministry of Environment & Forests has delegated the
powers to Central Pollution Control Board to recognize the environmental laboratories under
Govt, Semi-Govt., Autonomous, Public Sector Undertaking and Educational Institutes to
carry out the functions entrusted to an environmental laboratory under the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986. The activity will facilitate joint inspection of laboratories and other
miscellaneous expenditure made for consideration of recognition of environmental
laboratories under the E (P) Act, 1986.
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