PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

The aim of this work was to monitor organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides in paddy field soils, water and rice plants by measuring anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, and heavy metal contents by an atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that the percentages of anti-acetylcholinesterase activities were found in the order of shoot > soil > root > grain > water. Concentrations of heavy metals in all samples were found in the following order: Fe>Mn>Ni>Pb>Zn, particularly Fe, Ni and Pb were found in concentrations exceeding their maximum permissible levels in all samples of water and rice plants. Interestingly, principal component analysis confirmed positive correlations (significantly: P <0.05) between the percentages of anti-acetylcholinesterase activities and heavy metal contents, between Zn and Mn contents, between Zn and Pb contents, between Pb and Mn contents, and between Pb and Ni contents. Additionally, the translocation factors (TFsoil, TFroot, and TFshoot) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) above 1 of the rice plant were observed in order of Zn>Fe>Mn>Ni or Pb, Zn or Ni> Pb or Mn >Fe, Pb>Zn or Mn or Fe>Ni, and Zn>Pb>Mn>Ni>Fe, respectively. These data support developing a useful biomarker to monitor organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides and heavy metals, and management programs in health promotion and toxic surveillance for insecticides and heavy metals in food and environments.