Status of marine coastal contamination by organochlorine pesticides: levels, fate, behavior, and effects on biota

Abstract

Pesticides have been extensibility used in the control of agricultural and sanitary pests. From World War II onward, the relatively environmentally friendly pesticides used so far have been replaced by more efficient and cheaper synthetic pesticides, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including DDT, lindane, or endosulfan. OCPs have been widely used worldwide; however, in the 1970s they started to be banned due to their harmful effects on both, biota and humans. Nevertheless, half a century later, due to their high persistence and the existence of some active source, OCPs are still able to accumulate in the marine environment (water, sediments and biota) representing an active problem for marine ecosystem´s health.Once OPCs enter the environment, their distribution will follow the interaction with several factors -explained in detail in this chapter- such as the physical-chemical properties of each compound; interactions with the matrix; characteristics of the environment; and intensity, distance and seasonality of the source. This chapter reviews levels of OCPs in marine environments at different coasts of the world, noting that OCPs are still detectable and in cases, at high and harmful concentrations for the marine biota.