Distribution of pesticides and PCBs in sediments of agricultural drains in the Culiacan Valley, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Agriculture is one of the most important economic activities in Sinaloa, Mexico. The Culiacan Valley is an extensive agricultural region characterized by a variety of crops with high-yield productions. In this study, concentrations of organochlorine (OCPs) and organophosphorus (OPs) pesticides and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were determined in sediments of the agricultural drainage system of Culiacan Valley. Overall, 32 compounds were detected, with concentrations widely ranging from 0.03 to 1 294 ng g(-1) dry weight. OCP concentrations (15) ranged from 0.1 to 20.19 ng g(-1) dw. OP concentrations (8) ranged from 0.03 to 1294 ng g(-1) dw, and diazinon was the compound with the highest concentration. PCB concentrations were also determined and varied from 0.05 to 3.29 ng g(-1) dw. Other compounds detected included permethrin, triadimefon, and fipronil. The central zone registered the higher concentrations and the greatest number of compounds, which could be related to the occurrence of horticultural fields in this zone. According to sediment quality guidelines, the compounds exceeding the probable effect level were γ-HCH, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE, while the pesticides above the maximum permissible concentration were endosulfan, azinphos methyl, diazinon, dichlorvos, and permethrin. Although Sinaloa is an important agricultural crop producer in northwest Mexico, there are not many studies dealing with pesticide distribution in agricultural areas.
Unidad Mazatlan, Centro de Investigacion en Alimentacion y Desarrollo, Av. Sabalo Cerritos s/n, 82010 Mazatlán, SIN, Mexico.
Luz María
LM
García-de la Parra
L Juleny
LJ
Cervantes-Mojica
Carolina
C
González-Valdivia
Francisco J
FJ
Martínez-Cordero
Gabriela
G
Aguilar-Zárate
Pedro
P
Bastidas-Bastidas
Miguel
M
Betancourt-Lozano
D057914:Agricultural Irrigation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008800:Mexico; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls