SOUTH ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING: POPs ASSESSMENT IN SEVERAL MARINE ECOSYSTEM MATRIX (ARGENTINA)

ARIAS ANDRÉS; RONDA, ANA CAROLINA; OLIVA, A.L.; ORAZI, MELINA MIRTA; GIRONES, LAUTARO; RECABARRÉN-VILLALÓN, TATIANA; NORMA TOMBESI; KARLA POZO; J.E. MARCOVECCHIO

kyoto

Congreso; dioxins 2019; 2019

dioxins.org

Anthropogenic activities are generally recognized to be the most important source of PAHs release into the environment. At coastal areas, anthropogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are introduced via urban runoff, industrial processes, vehicle exhausts and spillage of fossil fuels. As the process of industrialization and urbanization are stepping rapidly in Argentina, the potential associated increase in PAHs input is a concern. In addition, the relatively low cost of organochlorine pesticides and unavailability of complete substitutes (particularly for DDT), ensure their continued use in several developing countries. The area of study is located at Buenos Aires Province, one of the most important agriculture regions of Argentina (17.5 to 19.2 million hm2 of sowed land). Large amount of organochlorine compounds (OCs) are known to be used in areas located close to the estuary basin and the abundant water and sediments loads of Sauce Chico stream, Maldonado river, Napostá Grande stream and other tributaries may play an important role on the transport and distribution of these compounds. In addition, Bahia Blanca Estuary holds an historic harbor which includes one of the most important petrochemical parks of South America. As a consequence a government/scientific monitoring program hast been established in order to follow up POPs levels and distribution at the area. Then, 24 sediment samples and a total of 2624 fish specimens were sampled in 60 pools an analized for PAHs and OCs from August 2015 to June 2016. Samples were processed for 16 selected organochlorine pesticides (OCs), following UNEP-IAEA procedures and 16 PAHs (EPA 3540C). While PAHs were quantified by means of GC/MS (HP68906C/ Hewlett-Packard HP5972), OCs were quantified by means of a PerkinElmer gas chromatograph (GC) with a 63Ni electron capture detector (ECD) (PerkinElmer, model Clarus 580, USA). Results showed sediment PAHs levels above LOD in all cases. The overall sediments average was of 231.2 ppb (d.w.) and levels ranged from 29 to 628 ppb, d.w. Dominant compounds were Fluoranthene, Phenanthrene and Naphthalene. Fish samples showed an average of 35.8 ppb (w.w.), ranging from