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profiling areas of ground water contamination by pesticides in california: phase ii – evaluation and modification of a statistical model

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 45, pages 301–319 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

A well sampling study was conducted to evaluate anempirical approach to classifying areasof land in California as vulnerable to ground watercontamination by pesticides (Troiano et al., 1994). Wells were sampled from sections of land that had noprevious detections of pesticideresidues. The sections had been classified into vulnerablesoil clusters or into a not-classified groupusing a procedure based on Principal Components Analysis(PCA). Grape, citrus, and olive growingareas of Fresno and Tulare Counties were targeted, areas wherepre-emergence herbicide residues hadbeen detected in well water. Overall, herbicide residues weredetected in 75 of 176 sampled wells, ahigh frequency of detection in relation to results fromprevious targeted well sampling studies. Sinceresidues were also detected in the not-classified group, theclassification procedure was modified usingan approach based on Canonical Variates Analysis (CVA). Moresections were classified intovulnerable soil clusters with the CVA approach than with thePCA method. Data from two otherexplanatory variables, depth to ground water and amount ofpesticide used per section, were includedto illustrate how additional information can be incorporatedinto this approach of identifying vulnerable areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Monitoring and Pest Management Program, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Environmental Protection Agency, 1020 N ST, Room 161, Sacramento, CA, 95814–5624, U.S.A

    John Troiano, Craig Nordmark, Terrell Barry & Bruce Johnson

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  1. John Troiano
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  2. Craig Nordmark
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  3. Terrell Barry
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  4. Bruce Johnson
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Troiano, J., Nordmark, C., Barry, T. et al. profiling areas of ground water contamination by pesticides in california: phase ii – evaluation and modification of a statistical model. Environ Monit Assess 45, 301–319 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005778719859

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005778719859

  • bromacil
  • diuran
  • geographical distribution
  • leachine
  • runoff empirical approach
  • simazine