Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Occurrence and fate of pesticides in the Argentine stretch of the Paraguay-Paraná basin

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Argentine stretch of the del Plata basin crosses regions devoted to extensive and intensive agriculture mostly with chemical pest control. The utilization of pesticides in the region has increased 900% in the last two decades associated with the introduction of biotech crops and direct-seeding techniques. Our objective was to study the occurrence, concentration, and fate of pesticides in surface water and bottom sediments of the principal tributaries and main watercourse of the Paraguay-Paraná River. We sampled 22 sites in the distal positions of the main affluents and main watercourse of the Paraná and report here results from two monitoring campaigns (2010–2012). Surface water and bottom sediments were analyzed according to standardized methods by matrix-solid-phase dispersion and liquid-liquid extraction, respectively. Twenty-three pesticide compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography. The results from both campaigns indicated a generalized but variable distribution in the concentrations detected throughout the basin. The ranges of total measured pesticide concentrations in water and sediments were, respectively, 0.004–6.62 μg/l and 0.16–221.3 μg/kg dry weight. Endosulfans, cypermethrin, and chlorpyrifos were ubiquitous compounds in both environmental compartments and quantitatively the most relevant. All concentrations detected in water were over the recommended guidelines for the protection of aquatic biota. The partitioning indicated a higher affinity for the sediments. Agricultural activity is the source of pesticide-pollution loads, transported by tributaries that reach the main watercourse and alter the quality of the aquatic ecosystem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ablin, E. R., & Paz, S. (2004). Política comercial y organismos genéticamente modificados: el mercado mundial de la soja y el caso Argentina, chapter 5. In A. Bárcena, J. Katz, C. Morales, & M. Schaper (Eds.), Los transgénicos en América Latina y el Caribe: un debate abierto (pp. 123–141). Santiago de Chile: CEPAL.

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA. (1998). In L. S. Clesceri, A. E. Greenberg, & A. D. Eaton (Eds.), Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (20th ed.). Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arias Estévez, M., López Periago, E., Martínez Carballo, E., Simal Gándara, J., Carlos Mejuto, J., & García Río, L. (2007). The mobility and degradation of pesticides in soils and the pollution of groundwater resources. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, 123, 247–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros, M. L., Miglioranza, K. S. B., González, M., Fillmann, G., Wunderlin, D. A., & Bistoni, M. A. (2014). Multimatrix measurement of persistent organic pollutants in Mar Chiquita, a continental saline shallow lake. Science of the Total Environment, 490, 73–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bejarano González, F., Red de Acción en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas en México A.C. (RAPAM). (2008). El endosulfan una amenaza a la salud y el medio ambiente, chapter. In: Bejarano González, F., Souza Casadinho, J., Weber, J.M., Guadarrama Zugasti, C., Escamilla Prado, E., Beristáin Ruiz, B., et al. (Eds.), El endosulfan y sus alternativas en América Latina (pp. 9–34). Oficina para América Latina y el Caribe.

  • Benítez Díaz, P., & Miranda Contreras, L. (2013). Surface water pollution by residues in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental, 29, 7–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernardos, J. N., & Zaccagnini, M. E. (2008). Evaluación del riesgo de toxicidad aguda para aves por uso de insecticidas en arroceras. In V. M. de la Balze & D. E. Blanco (Eds.), Primer taller para la Conservación de Aves Playeras Migratorias en Arroceras del Cono Sur. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Wetlands International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisang, R. (2004). Innovación y estructura productiva: la aplicación de biotecnología en la producción agrícola pampeana argentina, chapter 3. In A. Bárcena, J. Katz, C. Morales, & M. Schaper (Eds.), Los transgénicos en América Latina y el Caribe: un debate abierto (pp. 71–106). Santiago de Chile: CEPAL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanco, D. E., López Lanús, B., Dias, R. A., Azpiroz, A., & Rilla, F. (2006). Uso de arroceras por chorlos y playeros migratorios en el sur de América del Sur, Implicancias de conservación y manejo. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Wetlands International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonansea, R. I., Amé, M. V., & Wunderlin, D. A. (2013). Determination of priority pesticides in water samples combining SPE and SPME coupled to GC–MS. A case study: Suquía River basin (Argentina). Chemosphere, 90, 1860–1869.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brechelt, A. (2004). El manejo ecológico de plagas y enfermedades, 1th ed, Red de Acción en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas para América Latina (pp. 1–36). Santiago de Chile.

  • CASAFE. (2015). Cámara de Sanidad Agropecuaria y Fertilizantes. http://www.casafe.org/publicaciones/estadisticas/. Accessed December 2015.

  • CAPECO. (2015). Cámara Paraguaya de Exportadores y Comercializadores de cereales y oleaginosas. http://capeco.org.py/ranking-mundial-es/. Accessed December 2015.

  • De Gerónimo, E., Aparicio, V. C., Barbaro, S., Portocarrero, R., Jaime, S., & Costa, J. L. (2014). Presence of pesticides in surface water from four sub-basins in Argentina. Chemosphere, 107, 423–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demetrio, P. (2012). Estudio de efectos biológicos de plaguicidas utilizados en cultivos de soja RR y evaluación de impactos adversos en ambientes acuáticos de agroecosistemas de la región pampeana. Doctoral thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.

  • Di Marzio, W. D., Sáenz, M. E., Alberdi, J. L., Fortunato, N., Cappello, V., Montivero, C., & Ambrini, G. (2010). Environmental impact of insecticides applied on biotech soybean crops in relation to the distance from aquatic ecosystems. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 29(9), 1907–1917.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz Romo, P., Salinas Álvarez, S. (2002). Plaguicidas, tabaco y salud: el caso de los jornaleros huicholes, jornaleros mestizos y ejidatarios en Nayarit, México, Proyecto Huicholes y Plaguicidas, Oaxaca, México.

  • Ding, Y., Harwood, A. D., Foslund, H. M., & Lydy, M. J. (2010). Distribution and toxicity of sediment-associated pesticides in urban and agricultural waterways from Illinois, USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry., 29(1), 149–157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gebremariam, S. Y., Beutel, M. W., Yonge, D. R., Flury, M., & Harsh, J. B. (2012). Adsorption and desorption of chlorpyrifos to soils and sediments. Review Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 215, 123–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • González, M., Miglioranza, K. S., Shimabukuro, V., Quiroz, M., Martínez, D., Aizpun, J. E., & Moreno, V. J. (2012). Surface and groundwater pollution by organochlorine compounds in a typical soybean system from the South Pampa, Argentina. Environmental Earth Sciences, 65, 481–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González, P.V. (2013). Estudio de la calidad ambiental de sedimentos de la Cuenca del Río Paraná mediante bioensayos con peces, Graduate Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.

  • Hunt, L., Bonetto, C., Resh, V. H., Forsin Buss, D., Fanelli, S., Marrochi, N., & Lydy, M. J. (2016). Insecticide concentrations in stream sediments of soy production regions of South America. Science of the Total Environment, 547, 114–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ICH. (2005). International conference on harmonisation of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use. Validation of Analytical Procedures: text and methodology, Q2(R1), 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jergentz, S., Mugni, H., Bonetto, C., & Schulz, R. (2005). Assessment of insecticide contamination in runoff and stream water of small agricultural streams in the main soybean area of Argentina. Chemosphere, 61(6), 817–826.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katagi, T. (2006). Behavior of pesticides in water–sediment systems. Review Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 187, 133–251.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, I.R., Ahmad, N., Beasley, H., Chapman, J., Hobbs, J., Simpson, B., Woods, N., 1998. Quality Assurance in Pesticide Sampling and Analysis, LWRRDC, Occasional Paper N°14/98.

  • Kleffmann and Partner SRL. (2010). Mercado Argentino de Productos Fitosanitarios 2010.

  • Kleffmann and Partner SRL. (2012). Mercado Argentino de Productos Fitosanitarios 2012.

  • Leguizamón, A. (2013). Modifying Argentina: GM soy and socio-environmental change. Geoforum, 53, 149–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H., Wei, Y., Lydy, M. J., & You, J. (2014). Inter-compartmental transport of organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides in South China: implications for a regional risk assessment. Environmental Pollution, 190, 19–26.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loewy, R. M. (2011). Dinámica ambiental de plaguicidas, chapter 4. In O. L. Anguiano & C. M. Montagna (Eds.), Clasificación y toxicología de plaguicidas (pp. 237–265). Neuquén: EDUCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozowicka, B., Jankowska, M., Rutkowska, E., Kaczynki, P., & Hrynko, I. (2012). Comparison of extraction techniques by matrix solid phase dispersion and liquid-liquid for screening, 150 pesticides from soil, and determination by gas chromatogrphy. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 21(4), 973–992.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marino, D., & Ronco, A. E. (2005). Cypermethrin and chlorpiryfos concentration levels in surface water bodies of the pampa Ondulada, Argentina. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 75(4), 820–826.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Molina Morales, Y., Flores García, M., Balza Quintero, A., Benitez Díaz, P., & Miranda Contreras, L. (2012). Niveles de plaguicidas en aguas superficiales de una región agrícola del estado Mérida, Venezuela, entre 2008 y 2010. Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental, 28(4), 289–301.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morales, C., & Schaper, M. (2004). Las nuevas fronteras tecnológicas: los transgénicos y sus impactos en América Latina y el Caribe, chapter 8. In A. Bárcena, J. Katz, C. Morales, & M. Schaper (Eds.), Los transgénicos en América Latina y el Caribe: un debate Abierto (pp. 191–267). Santiago de Chile: CEPAL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugni, H., Ronco, A. E., & Bonetto, C. (2011). Insecticide toxicity to Hyalella Curvispina in runoff and stream water within a soybean farm (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 74(3), 350–354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ondarza, P.M. (2012). Fuentes terrestres de contaminación marina: Compuestos Organoclorados (COCs) en la Cuenca del Río Negro, Patagonia Argentina. Doctoral thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.

  • Peluso, L., Abelando, M., Apartin, C. D., Almada, P., & Ronco, A. E. (2013). Integrated ecotoxicological assessment of bottom sediments from the Paraná basin, Argentina. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 98, 179–186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pengue, W. A. (2001). Impactos de la expansión de la soja en Argentina. Biodiversidad, Sustento y Culturas, 29, 7–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peruzzo, P., Marino, D., Cremonte, C., da Silva, M., Porta, A., Ronco, A. (2003). Impacto de pesticidas en aguas superficiales y sedimentos asociado a cultivos por siembra directa, Conferencia Internacional usos múltiples del agua: para la vida y el desarrollo sostenible. Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, p. 135–142.

  • PIT-AP. (2010). Proyectos de Innovación y Transferencia en Áreas Prioritarias, Monitoreo ambiental de los principales afluentes del Río Paraná.

  • PPDB. (2015). Pesticide Properties Data Base. http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/footprint/es/. Accessed October 2015.

  • Quinn, G. P., & Keough, M. J. (2002). Experimental design and data for biologists. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Racke, K. D. (1993). Environmental fate of chlorpyrifos. Review Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 131, 1–150.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ronco, A.E., Carriquiriborde, P., Natale, G.S., Martin, M., Mugni, H., Bonetto, C. (2008). Integrated approach for the assessment of biotech soybean pesticides impact on low order stream ecosystems of the Pampasic region, chapter 6. In: Chen, J., Guo, C., (Eds.), (pp. 209–239). Ecosystem Ecology Research, Nova Publishers.

  • Ronco, A.E., Almada, P., Apartin, C., Marino, D., Abelando, M., Bernasconi, C., Primost, J., Santillán, J.M., Amoedo, P., Bulus Rossini, G. (2011). Monitoreo ambiental de los principales afluentes de los Ríos Paraná y Paraguay. In: Proceedings of the III Congreso internacional sobre cambio climático y desarrollo sustentable, UNLP, La Plata, Argentina, 7 pp.

  • Ronco, A. E., Marino, D., Abelando, M., Almada, P., & Apartin, C. D. (2016). Water quality of the main tributaries of the Paraná Basin: glyphosate and AMPA in surface water and bottom sediments. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. doi:10.1007/s10661-016-5467-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rovedatti, M. G., Castañé, P. M., Topalián, M. L., & Salibián, A. (2001). Monitoring of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in the water of the Reconquista River (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Water Research, 35, 3457–3461.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAyDS-PNA-UNLP. (2007). Secretaria de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable, Prefectura Naval Argentina, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Caracterización sanitaria y ambiental de las aguas en tramos específicos de los Ríos Paraná, Paraguay, Uruguay y sus afluentes (tres campañas).

  • SIIA. (2015). Sistema Integrado de Información Agropecuaria, http://www.siia.gov.ar. Accessed October 2015.

  • SRHN. (2003). Subsecretaría de Recursos Hídricos de la Nación, Desarrollos de niveles guía nacionales de calidad de agua ambiente correspondientes a cipermetrina.

  • SRHN. (2004). Subsecretaría de Recursos Hídricos de la Nación, Desarrollos de niveles guía nacionales de calidad de agua ambiente correspondientes a endosulfan.

  • SRHN. (2005). Subsecretaría de Recursos Hídricos de la Nación, Desarrollos de niveles guía nacionales de calidad de agua ambiente correspondientes a clorpirifos.

  • Starner, K., & Goh, K. S. (2013). Chlorpyrifos-treated crops in the vicinity of surface water contamination in the San Joaquin Valley. California, USA, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 91, 287–291.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SC. (2008). Stockholm Convention, Protecting Human Health and Environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants, United Nations Environment Program, Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention, Châtelaine, Switzerland.

  • USEPA. (1996). Method 3510C (Separatory funnel liquid-liquid extraction), revision 3, Test methods for evaluating solid waste, SW-846, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 3rd ed. US Government Printing Office, Washington.

  • USEPA. (2014). Method 3620C (Florisil Cleanup), revision 4. Test methods for evaluating solid waste, SW-846, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 3rd ed. US Government Printing Office, Washington.

  • Villaamil Lepori, C., Bovi Mitre, G., & Nasseta, M. (2013). Situación actual de la contaminación por plaguicidas en Argentina. Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental, 29, 25–43.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Federico Leloir crew of the Prefectura Naval Argentina and the CIMA-UNLP laboratory team for their assistance, collaboration, and technical support. The research was supported by grants from UNLP PIT-AP-2010 and ANPCyT PICT-0891/0919. Dr. Donald F. Haggerty, a retired academic career investigator and native English speaker, edited the final version of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    MA Etchegoyen, AE Ronco & DJ Marino

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    MA Etchegoyen, AE Ronco & DJ Marino

  3. Instituto Univesitario de Seguridad Marítima-Dirección de Protección Ambiental-Prefectura Naval Argentina, Av. Corrientes 345, CABA, Argentina

    P Almada & M Abelando

Authors
  1. MA Etchegoyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. AE Ronco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P Almada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M Abelando
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. DJ Marino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to DJ Marino.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Etchegoyen, M., Ronco, A., Almada, P. et al. Occurrence and fate of pesticides in the Argentine stretch of the Paraguay-Paraná basin. Environ Monit Assess 189, 63 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-5773-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-5773-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation