Abstract
Coastal waters are currently a sink for pesticides and pollutants coming from inland due to agricultural and industrial activities, which impact marine ecosystems and pose high risks to human health. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the concentration of organochlorine pesticides in the rainy and dry seasons in seawater, estuary water and drinking water from 6 coastal municipalities of Yucatán, Mexico: Progreso, Chelém, Chuburná, Celestún, Dzilám de Bravo and Ría Lagartos. In the study, α-lindane, β-lindane, ɣ-lindane, δ-lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan I, dieldrin, 4,4´-DDE, endrin, endosulfan II, 4,4´-DDD, endrin aldehyde, endosulfan sulfate, and 4,4´DDT were identified and quantified. Pesticide determination was carried out by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. The most frequently found pesticides at the sampling sites were α-lindane, β-lindane, heptachlor, and endosulfan sulfate. The highest concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in rainy season were 0.573 mg/L of endosulfan sulfate, 0.487 mg/L of Aldrin, 0.468 mg/L of dieldrin, 0.446 mg/L of ɗ-lindane; in dry season 0.604 mg/L of Aldrin, 0.462 mg/L of dieldrin, 4.52 mg/L of heptachlore, 0.405 mg/L of endosulfan. Zones with more high levels detected on the coasts were Dzilám de Bravo and Progreso. The high levels of organochlorine pesticides detected in coastal municipalities are widespread, representing risks to the public health and marine species.