Seasonal variations in air concentrations of 27 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 25 current-use pesticides (CUPs) across three agricultural areas of South Africa
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: For decades pesticides have been used in agriculture, however, the occurrence of legacy organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and current-use pesticides (CUPs) is poorly understood in Africa. This study investigates air concentrations of OCPs and CUPs in three South African agricultural areas, their spatial/seasonal variations and mixture profiles. Between 2017 and 2018, 54 polyurethane foam-disks passive air-samplers (PUF-PAS) were positioned in three agricultural areas of the Western Cape, producing mainly apples, table grapes and wheat. Within areas, 25 CUPs were measured at two sites (farm and village), and 27 OCPs at one site (farm). Kruskal-Wallis tests investigated area differences in OCPs concentrations, and linear mixed-effect models studied differences in CUPs concentrations between areas, sites and sampling rounds. In total, 20 OCPs and 16 CUPs were detected. A median of 16 OCPs and 10 CUPs were detected per sample, making a total of 11 OCPs and 24 CUPs combinations. Eight OCPs (trans-chlordane, o,p’-/p,p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE)/dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), endosulfan sulfate, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane and mirex) and two CUPs (carbaryl and chlorpyrifos) were quantified in all samples. p,p’-DDE (median 0.14 ng/m3) and chlorpyrifos (median 0.70 ng/m3) showed the highest concentrations throughout the study. Several OCPs and CUPs showed different concentrations between areas and seasons, although CUPs concentrations did not differ between sites. OCPs ratios suggest ongoing chlordane use in the region, while DDT and endosulfan contamination result from past-use. Our study revealed spatial and seasonal variations of different OCPs and CUPs combinations detected in air. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential cumulative or synergistic risks of the detected pesticides.
Source: Chemosphere
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,400
Funders: National Science Foundation, Universität Basel, European Commission, National Research Foundation, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, National Research Foundation of Korea, Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Horizon 2020, RECETOX Přírodovědecké Fakulty Masarykovy Univerzity
Awards: G1310542324, Data Fusion for Inverse Electrocardiography: Synthesis of Signals from Multiple Sensor Types and Locations, G2020983025, CETOCOEN Excellence, Exposure to pesticides and health effects in six agricultural cohorts in low- and middle-income countries, RECETOX RI, G3622461675, G434337789, G5585154173, G5641063287, G588421728, ACTRIS – participation of the Czech Republic, G7710866549, G8084802909, G9000260180
OpenAlex ID: W4200572548