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Current Use Pesticide Study (on going)
While synthetic organic pesticides are often implicated for their potential to adversely affect the health of coastal ecosystems, evidence to support this connection is primarily limited to persistent organochlorine insecticides that were banned in the 1970s and 1980s. With the exception of gamma hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane), no contemporary pesticides were monitored in the Mussel Watch Project prior to 1993.
Evidence of aquatic ecosystem impact from contemporary pesticides is scarce and limited to site specific contamination during isolated storm and runoff events. Contemporary pesticides tend to have lower persistence in the natural environment.
In 1993, a monitoring survey of contemporary pesticides was carried out under the Mussel Watch Project. This survey consistently found two contemporary pesticides, chlorpyrifos and endosulfan, in bivalve tissues of all US Coastal Waters and the Great Lakes . Since 1994, these two insecticides have been routinely monitored.
Beginning in 1999 and continuing through 2001, surface water samples were measured for more than 25 current use pesticides as part of two Bioeffects Assessment Studies in southeast Florida ( Biscayne Bay and St. Lucie Estuary). The occurrence of several pesticides was documented that suggest agricultural runoff and mosquito control measures as possible sources.
This study reports the results four years of chlorpyrifos monitoring (1994 to 1997) in bivalve tissue and sediment, and one year (1997) of endosulfan monitoring in bivalve tissue.
The spatial distribution of these two compounds and the mechanisms by which they are transported to coastal environments are evaluated. Concentrations of these compounds are compared with respect to their proximity to human population, freshwater discharges from fluvial and estuarine drainage areas, and pesticide and land use characteristics.
Analysis of the temporal tends in concentrations will be determined after at least six years of monitoring has been completed.
Project Partners
State of Florida
USDA, Agricultural Research Service
References
NOAA's Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS CCMA
140
Biscayne Bay Report (report due fall of 2004)
St. Lucie Estuary (report due 2005)