PESTICIDES USE IN TWO AGRICULTURAL ZONES OF MÉXICO AND EVALUATION OF WATER AND SEDIMENTS POLLUTION

This study presents the inventory of pesticides and an assessment of water and sediments pollution in two agricultural areas of Mexico. Triazinic, fenoxychlorinated, and organochlorine pesticides were analyzed, including six persistent organic pollutants (POP). Although the use of atrazine is restri...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: HERNÁNDEZ-ANTONIO, Arturo, M. HANSEN, Anne
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
Repositorio:Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/25011
Acceso en línea:https://www.revistascca.unam.mx/rica/index.php/rica/article/view/25011
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:cuenca hidrológica
COP
atrazina y desetilatrazina
DDD y DDE
Descripción
Sumario:This study presents the inventory of pesticides and an assessment of water and sediments pollution in two agricultural areas of Mexico. Triazinic, fenoxychlorinated, and organochlorine pesticides were analyzed, including six persistent organic pollutants (POP). Although the use of atrazine is restricted and prohibited in various parts of the World, this herbicide is still being used in Mexico without restriction and our results show that this herbicide affects water quality in one of the agricultural areas. The concentrations of atrazine and one of its metabolites (desethylatrazine) in water samples exceeded the limit of 2 µg L-1 proposed by the World Health Organization for this herbicide in drinking water (WHO 2008) and the one of the European Community has satted at 0.1 µg L-1 for drinking water (European Parliament 1998). The metabolites of the pesticide DDT (DDD and DDE) exceeded the interim sediment quality guideline (ISQG) for freshwater sediments established by the Canadian Council of Environmental Ministers although concentrations do not exceed the probable effect level (PEL) (CCME 2003). Although the use of DDT in agriculture has been banned in Mexico (DOF 1991), the results show that the metabolites of this pesticide continue to appear in environmental samples due to its long half-life. Surveillance monitoring is proposed for the pesticides found in levels higher than established in limits and criteria.