USF St. Petersburg campus Faculty Publications
Passive air sampling of organochlorine pesticides in Mexico.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2009
ISSN
0013-936X
Abstract
The spatial and temporal variation of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) in air across Mexico was investigated by deploying passive samplers at eleven stations across the country during 2005−2006. Integrated samples were taken over three-month periods and quantified for DDT compounds,endosulfans, toxaphenes, components of technical chlordane, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and dieldrin. Enantiomers of chiral chlordanes and o,p′-DDT were determined on chiral stationary phase columns as an indicator of source and age. Results are discussed in combination with pumped air samples taken at four other stations in southern Mexico during 2002−2004. DDT and its metabolites, endosulfan and toxaphene were the most abundant OCs detected in all sampling sites. Atmospheric concentrations of ΣDDT (p,p′-DDT + o,p′-DDT + p,p′-DDE + o,p′-DDE + p,p′-DDD + o,p′-DDD) ranged from 15 to 2360 pg m−3 with the highest concentrations found in southern Mexico and the lowest found in northern and central Mexico. A fresher DDT residue was observed at sites with greater DDT use and in the southern part of the country, as shown from the higher FDDTe = p,p′-DDT/(p,p′-DDT + p,p′-DDE) and nearly racemic o,p′-DDT. This agrees with the former heavy use of DDT in the endemic malarious area of the country. A local hotspot of endosulfan was identified at an agricultural area in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, with a annual mean concentration of ΣENDO (endosulfans I + II + endosulfan sulfate) = 26,800 pg m−3. At this site, higher concentrations of ΣENDO were recorded during the winter (November to February) and spring (February to May) periods. From back trajectory analysis, this coincides with a shift in the air mass coming from the Pacific Ocean (May to November) to the inland agricultural area (November to May). The elevated ΣENDO observed is likely due to the local agricultural usage. HCHs, chlordanes, trans-nonachlors, and dieldrin were more evenly distributed across the country likely due to them being aged residues and more diffuse in the environment. In contrast, hotspots of endosulfans, DDTs, and toxaphenes were observed as they were heavily used in localized agricultural or malarious regions of Mexico.
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Recommended Citation
Wong, F., Alegria, H.A., & Bidleman, T.F., Alvarado, V., Angeles, F., Galarza, A.A., … Espinoza, E.R. (2009). Passive air sampling of organochlorine pesticides in Mexico. Environmental Science and Technology, 43(3), 704-710. Doi: 10.1021/es802385j.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Abstract only. Full-text article is available through licensed access provided by the publisher. Published in Environmental Science and Technology, 43(3), 704-710. Doi: 10.1021/es802385j. Members of the USF System may access the full-text of the article through the authenticated link provided.