title: Organic pollutant levels in an agricultural watershed: the importance of analyzing multiple matrices for assessing stream water pollution.
abstract: This study is aimed at analyzing the occurrence and transport of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the Quequén Grande river basin, as representative of a catchment under diffuse pollution sources. Pollutant levels in soils, river bottom sediments (RBS), streamwater (Sw), suspended particle materials (SPMs), macrophytes and muscle of silverside were determined by GC-ECD. Soil K(d) values for the current-used insecticides, endosulfans and cypermethrin, were established. Total levels (ng g(-1) dry weight) in soil ranged between 0.07–0.9 for OCPs, 0.03–0.37 for PCBs and 0.01–0.05 for PBDEs. Endosulfan insecticide (α- + b- + sulfate metabolite) represented up to 72.5% of OCPs. The low soil retention for α-endosulfan (K(d): 77) and endosulfan sulfate (K(d): 100) allows their transport to Sw, SPM and RBS. Levels of endosulfan in Sw in some cases exceeded the value postulated by international guidelines for aquatic biota protection (3 ng L(-1)). PCB and PBDE pollution was related to harbour, dumping sites and pile tire burning. Tri and hexa PCB congeners predominated in all matrices and exceeded the quality guideline value of 0.04 ng L(-1) in Sw. Considering levels in silverside muscle, none of the oral reference doses were exceeded, however, PCBs accounted for 18.6% of the total daily allowed ingest for a 70 kg individual. Although the levels of PCBs and OCPs in soil and RBS were low and did not go beyond quality guidelines, these compounds could still represent a risk to aquatic biota and humanbeings, and thus actions towards preventing this situation should be undertaken.
authors: Laboratorio de Ecotoxicología y Contaminacíon Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científícas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina. mariana.gonzalez@conicet.gov.ar
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Gonzalez
authors: Karina S B
authors: KS
authors: Miglioranza
authors: Sebastían I
authors: SI
authors: Grondona
authors: Maria Florencia
authors: MF
authors: Silva Barni
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Martinez
authors: Aránzazu
authors: A
authors: Peña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004726:Endosulfan / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D004726:Endosulfan