ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN SEDIMENT AND BIOTA IN THE COASTAL REGION TO THE SOUTH OF THE PINAR DEL RIO PROVINCE, CUBA

摘要

A study was conducted to assess the levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides in the coastal region near to a large rice field to the south of the Pinar del Rio Province in Cuba. Samples of sediment and biota (Isognomon alatus) were taken periodically over a period of 14 months. Analysis of organochlorines, polychlorinated biphenyls and other related compounds was done using gas chromatography-electron capture detection with a mean recovery of 87% and a detection limit of 0.25 μg/kg. Only DDT, DDE and DDD were found in the sediment and biota samples, with small differences in concentration between sampling sites during the dry season. After the rainy season began, the residues in sediment were very low, while the concentrations in biota remained comparatively unchanged, ranging from 11.2 to 23.8 μg/kg total DDT.