Organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in leek (Allium porrum) crops grown on untreated soils from an agricultural environment.

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

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY

American Chemical Society

Lugar: USA; Año: 2003 vol. 51 p. 5024 - 5029

0021-8561

Leek (Allium porrum) plants from organic farming were harvested at 15, 59 and 210 days after seed germination. Organochlorine pesticide (OCP) levels were quantified by GC-ECD in vegetative tissues (roots and aerial), bulk soil and rhizosphere. Leek plant bioaccumulate OCPs efficiently in their aerial and root tissues and alter the concentration of the soil where they are grown.  OCPs distribution pattern of bulk soil was endosulfans > DDTs > dieldrin, while it was endosulfans > HCHs > DDTs in leek tissues. There were statistically significant declines in DDTs, chlordane, dieldrin and heptachlor in the rhizosphere, indicating that recalcitrant residues of OCPs may be removed from contaminated soil using leek crops under normal growing conditions. The DDE/DDT and a-/g- HCH ratios of < 1 would indicate recent inputs of DDT and lindane in the environment. The occurrence of OCPs in this farm could be the result of atmospheric deposition and /or surface runoff of these pesticides.