Assessment of pollution by organic contaminants in coastal areas of Argentina, Latin America.

MIGLIORANZA, KARINA; GRONDONA, SEBASTIÁN; VÁZQUEZ, NICOLÁS DARÍO; ONDARZA, PAOLA; CHERICHIETTI, MELISA; SECO PON, JUAN; SCENNA, LORENA; QUADRI ADROGUÉ, AGUSTINA; ACUÑA, FH

Hong Kong

Conferencia; Gordon Research Conference: Urban, water and food security, Clear Water Bay; 2019

The coastal areas of Argentina, Latin America, have been impacted by waste and polluted water, altering ecosystems and impacting human populations. Likewise, in the last decades the effects of climate change are more directly observed in these areas, highlighting the deterioration of water resources. Moreover, the land-based sources of marine pollution are also a big problem for coastal areas. Thus, water quality in agricultural watersheds is of great concern since residues of legacy and current-use pesticides are usually found in the aquatic environment. Organochlorine pesticides have been widely used for different crops in Argentina until progressively banned, being endosulfan the last prohibited in 2013.This group of compounds is characterized by high hydrophobicity, persistence, toxicity and capacity for long-range transport. The coastal ecosystems receive the discharges of rivers, effluents and urban impacts affecting the development of many species. In this sense, industrial contaminants such as PCBs, PBDEs, and emerging pollutants are also found in the areas. The occurrence of organic contaminants was evaluated in sediments, invertebrates, commercial fish and birds from coastal areas of Argentina. A spatial distribution of contaminants according to activities impacts was observed, and it was reflected in the bioaccumulation of pollutants in sediments and biota. The objective of the study is to contribute to improve coastal zone management increasing resilience of Latin America countries to the impacts to climate change promoting collaboration among provinces or regions, and coordination in order to carried out co-management models or management strategies adapted to the effects of environment pollution with the purpose of contributing to an efficient, inclusive and sustainable development.