A study was conducted on selected vegetables from West Bengal to assess the level of organochlorine pesticide residues and the concentration of ΣOCPs was ranged between, <0.01– 65.07 μg kg-1 with average of 9.67±2.34 μg kg-1 (wet wt.). The concentration of ΣDDT, ΣHCH, aldrin, dieldrin and heptachlor was 3.49±0.93 μg kg-1, 2.07±0.53 μg kg-1, 1.32±0.65 μg kg-1, 1.36±1.18 μg kg-1 and 1.80±0.4 μg kg-1 (wet wt) respectively. Isomer composition was determined from the observed concentrations to identify the possible contamination sources. Ratio of α-HCH/γ- HCH varied in the range of 0-5.69 with mean value of 0.76 which reflects the usage of technical HCH and lindane. The ratio of p,p’-DDT/ΣDDTs, DDTs/ΣDDT, DDE+DDD)/ΣDDT, and DDT/DDE was 0.30, 0.50, 1.17 and 1.97 respectively, indicating DDT contaminations from biotransformation and transported depositions. The observed residue levels of OCPs were below maximum residue limits (MRLs) indicating minimal risk to the consumers.
