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Title: PESTICIDE OCCURENCE IN SELECTED SOUTH FLORIDA CANALS AND BISCAYNE BAY DURING HIGH AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY

Author
item Hapeman, Cathleen
item Harman Fetcho, Jennifer
item McConnell, Laura
item Potter, Thomas
item Rice, Clifford
item Sadeghi, Ali
item Smith, Ramona
item Bialek Kalinski, Krystyna
item Sefton, Kerry
item SCHAFFER, BRUCE - U. FLORIDA
item CURRY, RICHARD - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2005
Publication Date: 7/1/2005
Citation: Hapeman, C.J., Harman Fetcho, J.A., Mcconnell, L.L., Potter, T.L., Rice, C., Sadeghi, A.M., Smith, R.D., Bialek Kalinski, K.M., Sefton, K.A., Schaffer, B.A., Curry, R. 2005. Pesticide occurence in selected south florida canals and biscayne bay during high agricultural activity. Journal of Agricultural Food & Chemistry. 53:6040-6048.

Interpretive Summary: Agricultural production has been implicated in the decline of ecosystem health in South Florida. A study was conducted to examine the types and concentrations of currently-used pesticides present in water from thirteen sites over a two-year period on several South Florida canals and in Biscayne Bay. Atrazine, metolachlor, chlorthanil, chlorpyriphos, and endosulfan were most frequently detected. None of the obverved concentrations exceeded toxicity levels used in US EPA registration of these pesticides. Spatial analysis indicated that atrazine and chlorpyriphos were most likely to be found in areas were canal samples near corn fields and chlorthanil and endosulfan were more frequently observed in canals near other vegetables fields. No spatial trends were found for metolachlor which is used on nearly all crops in this area. As expected, temporal analysis of the same pesticides showed that heavier use of the chlorthanil and endosulfan occurred near harvest. These data were used to calculate a hazard potential for planting (November) period versus harvest (March). This analysis indicated that a higher hazard potential occurs during harvest primarily from the use of endosulfan. These data will also serve to document canal conditions prior to implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).

Technical Abstract: Agricultural production has been implicated in the decline of ecosystem health in South Florida. A study was conducted to examine the types and concentrations of currently-used pesticides present in water from thirteen sites over a two year period on several South Florida canals and in Biscayne Bay. Atrazine, metolachlor, chlorthanil, chlorpyriphos, and endosulfan were most frequently detected. Spatial analysis indicated that atrazine and chlorpyriphos were most likely to be found in areas were canal samples near corn fields and chlorthanil and endosulfan were more frequently observed in canals near other vegetables fields. No spatial trends were found for metolachlor which is used on nearly all crops in this area. As expected, temporal analysis of the same pesticides showed that heavier use of the chlorthanil and endosulfan occurred near harvest. These data were used to calculate a hazard potential for planting (November) period versus harvest (March). This analysis indicated that a higher hazard potential occurs during harvest primarily from the use of endosulfan. These data will also serve to document canal conditions prior to implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).