Assessment of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in a multi matrix system from estuarine and its near-coastal areas of Argentina

ONDARZA, P.; SCENNA, L.B.; SHIMABUKURO, V.; LO NOSTRO, F.; MIGLIORANZA, K.

Barcelona

Congreso; SETAC Europe 25th Annual Meeting; 2015

SETAC EUROPE

TH068 - Assessment of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in a multi matrix system from estuarine and its near-coastal areas of Argentina P.M. Ondarza, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata / Lab de Ecotoxicología y Contaminación Ambiental Depto Ciencias Marinas; L.B. Scenna, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata / Lab Ecotoxicología y Contaminación Ambiental Depto Ciencias Marinas; V. Shimabukuro, Mar Del Plata National University; F.L. Lo Nostro, UBA & CONICET / PhD. Research assistant and teaching ass.; K.S. Miglioranza, University of Mar Del Plata / Lab of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Pollution. Estuaries are productive ecosystems exposed to an increasing pollution due to anthropogenic activities. The Bahía Blanca estuary (38º45´S- 62º20´W) is one of the most economically important areas in Argentina, with an intensive agriculture production, commercial harbors and petrochemicals industries. The environmental behavior of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in different biotic and abiotic matrixes was assessed in Rosales harbor (RH, inner site) and Pehuencó beach (PB, outside) of this estuary. OCPs and PCBs levels in water (N=12), suspended particulate matter (SPM, N=12), bottom sediments (BS, N=10), and the most abundant crab Cyrtograpsus angulatus (Varunidae) (N=18) were determined by GCECD. Concentrations are reported as ng/L in water, ng/g dry wt in SPM and BS, and ng/g wet wt in crab tissues. Water samples showed a predominance of OCPs in both sampling sites (3.7). SPM from PB presented a OCPs/PCBs ratio >1 (2.7) while those from RH was < 1 (0.4). BS from RH presented higher levels of OCPs and PCBs than PB. The pollutant levels in SPM were 200 and 80 times higher than BS in RH and PB, respectively. The highest OCPs concentrations were found in muscle samples (24.5-25.4) followed by gills (7.1-22.1) and hepatopancreas (4.3-8.1) of female crabs from PB, while males showed the following distribution: gills (3.8) >hepatopancreas (4.3) >muscle (1.5). OCPs levels in males from RH decrease with the increment of the carapace width with the major difference in hepatopancreas of organisms with >30 mm (4.8) and < 25 mm (8.3), showing a dilution effect of pollutants. In all samples analyzed, endosulfans represented up to 70% of OCPs, with a a-/b-isomers ratio >1. This pattern indicates the technical mixture application for agricultural proposes, until their recently ban in Argentina. Enrichment in endosulfan sulfate was found in hepatopancreas of crabs in both sampling sites, suggesting the metabolism of the parent isomers in these organisms. The pollutants profile observed in crab tissues were similar to those found in water and BS, showing that C. angulatus is a suitable biomonitor for organic pollutants. This study revealed that land use in surrounding areas represents current sources of OCPs and PCBs to Bahía Blanca estuary. Consequently, future long-term monitoring programs in coastal areas are necessary in order to reduce the impact from agriculture and industrial activities on non-target communities