Abstract
El Hito Lake is an ephemeral saline water mass present most of the year as a gypsiferous salt pan that is temporarily flooded during rainy periods, when it becomes a refuge for migratory birds such as flamingos and cranes, among others. It is considered an important hotspot of biodiversity and as such is covered by protection status. In order to check the environmental condition of the lake and determine the spatial distribution and source of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), we performed a detailed soil and sediment sampling campaign with the catchment and dry lake bottom. We present the first environmental evaluation of its current state with respect to OCPs: hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (α-, β-, γ- and δ-HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites (DDE and DDD), and cyclodienes (aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, α-chlordane, γ-chlordane, endosulfan I, endosulfanII, endosulfan sulphate, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide B and metoxichlor). Some of the compounds showed concentrations above the soil screening levels (SSLs) for human health and ecosystems: γ-HCH (100 μg/kg), α-HCH (60 μg/kg), endrin (30 μg/kg), aldrin (30 μg/kg) and heptachlor epoxide B (30 μg/kg). Various indices were used to determine the origin of the compounds. Historical uses were interpreted, although there were traces of recent input. Distribution maps of concentration and indices demonstrate a relationship between farming and cropping and the maxima observed, being possible that OCPs have influence in living beings, especially birds.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
