Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in high mountain lakes, Mexico

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2022-07, Vol.29 (32), p.49291-49308
• Main Authors: García-Solorio, Liliana, Muro, Claudia, De La Rosa, Isaías, Amador-Muñoz, Omar, Ponce-Vélez, Guadalupe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric aerosols; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Endosulfan; endosulfan sulfate; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Freshwater lakes; Gas chromatography; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; ionization; issues and policy; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Mexico; Mountain lakes; Mountains; Organic compounds; Organochlorine compounds; Organochlorine pesticides; PCB; Pesticides; Plankton; Pollutants; pollution; Pollution levels; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Research Article; sediments; Sludge; Sulfates; Tubifex tubifex; Volcanoes; Waste Water Technology; Water analysis; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Weather
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19177-z

Pollution levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated in the El Sol and the La Luna alpine lakes. The lakes are located in central Mexico, in the crater of the Nevado de Toluca volcano. The El Sol and the La Luna lakes are extremely relevant in Mexico and in the world because they are recognized as pristine regions and environmental reservoirs. Samples of atmospheric aerosol, sediment, plankton, and Tubifex tubifex (sludge worm) were collected at three different sample locations for three years (2017, 2018, and 2019) at three different times of year, meaning that the weather conditions at the time of sampling were different. Pollutants were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionisation (GC–MS/NCI). Endosulfan was the most frequent and abundant pollutant, showing the highest peaks of all. Atmospheric aerosol revealed Σ 2  = 45 pg/m 3 , including α and β, while sediment lakes displayed α, β and endosulfan sulfate as Σ 3  = 1963 pg/g, whereas plankton and Tubifex tubifex showed Σ 2  = 576 pg/g and 540 pg/g for α and β respectively. Results of endosulfan ratios (α/β) and (α-β/endosulfan sulfate) suggest that both fresh and old discharges continue to arrive at the lakes. This study shows for the first time the pollution levels of OCP and PCB in high mountain lakes in Mexico. These results that must be considered by policy makers to mitigate their use in the various productive activities of the region.