En: Surface and Agricultural Water: Occurrence of organochlorine pesticides in vegetables grown on untreated soils from an agricultural watershed

GONZALEZ, MARIANA; MIGLIORANZA KARINA SILVIA BEATRIZ; AIZPUN JULIA ELENA; MORENO VICTOR JORGE

Water Encyclopedia

John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Lugar: NJ, USA; Año: 2005; p. 643 - 647

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are compounds of particular concern in the environment due to their recalcitrance, global transport, distribution, and toxicity that lead to include them into the group of persistent organic pollutants. The impact of soil contaminants on human health and accumulation in food crops is relevant due to increased dietary exposure of consumers. Organic agriculture has developed rapidly during the last decade on the assumption that such food is free of synthetic pesticides. While it is likely that lower pesticide residues are found in organically grown vegetables, it has been demonstrated that these produce can reach similar pesticide levels than those conventionally grown. Topographic position, wind dispersion and neighboring farms are the main factors affecting organic products. Moreover, the use of pine needles as soil amendments can enhance the OCPs levels, since they are known to accumulate highly lipophilic pollutants from the atmosphere. Vegetables grown on untreated soils accumulated OCPs efficiently from both, air and soil. The main pesticides found involved, endosulfans currently in use, DDTs and HCHs, which use is banned or restricted. All OCPs levels were  below the maximum residue limits (MRL) considered by the Codex Alimentarius. Therefore, ecosystem factors such as pesticide runoff, drift from pesticide used by neighboring farming, volatilization, leaching and wash out impact on the occurrence of OCPs in vegetables grown on untreated soils.