Title: Presence of persistent organochlorine pesticides in estuaries of the subtropical Mexican Pacific

Authors: M.L. Robledo-Marenco, A.V. Botello, C.A. Romero-Banuelos, G. Diaz-Gonzalez

Addresses: Laboratorio de Contaminacion y Toxicologia, Centro Multidisciplinario de Investigacion Cientifica, (CEMIC) Universidad Autonoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura, Amado Nervo s/n, Tepic Nayarit, 63190, Mexico. ' Laboratorio de Contaminacion Marina, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Apdo. Postal 70-310, Mexico DF 04510, Mexico. ' Laboratorio de Contaminacion y Toxicologia Centro Multidisciplinario de Investigacion Cientifica (CEMIC), Universidad Autonoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura, Amado Nervo s/n, Tepic Nayarit, 63190, Mexico. ' Departamento de Produccion Agricola y Animal, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Campus Xochimilco, Mexico DF 04960, Mexico

Abstract: A set of 40 samples of sediments and shrimps (Litopenaeus spp.) from two estuaries in the subtropical Mexican Pacific (San Blas, Nayarit) was analysed to determine the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). These pesticides have been widely used and dispersed in the study area, either for agriculture crops or control of malaria. For sediments of both estuaries (Pozo-Rey and San Cristobal), the results show that the most frequent compounds were the HCH isomers, endosulphan and DDT group. The shrimp|s tissues follow the same pattern of pesticide distribution. The HCH isomers being the most frequent compounds, they demonstrated their broad use. The concentration of OCPs detected in this study area was lower than those previously reported in other wetlands from the Mexican Pacific. All OCPs identified in this work are banned by the Mexican legislation, with their consequent risks to the environment and the public health.

Keywords: organochlorine pesticides; OCPs; sediments; shrimps; estuaries; subtropical region; Mexico; water pollution; pesticide distribution; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2006.009112

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2006 Vol.26 No.1/2/3, pp.284 - 294

Published online: 02 Mar 2006 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article