Influence The USE of Pesticides in The Quality of Surface and Groundwater Located IN Irrigated Areas of Jaguaribe, Ceara, Brazil

Milhome, M.A.L.; Sousa, P.L.R.; Lima, F.A.F.; Nascimento, R.F.

doi:10.22059/ijer.2015.895

Influence The USE of Pesticides in The Quality of Surface and Groundwater Located IN Irrigated Areas of Jaguaribe, Ceara, Brazil

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

M.A.L. Milhome ¹

P.L.R. Sousa ²

F.A.F. Lima ¹

R.F. Nascimento ²

¹ Nucleus Foundation of Industrial Technology of Ceara-NUTEC, R. Rômulo Proença S/N, Pici, CEP:60451-970, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil

² Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Federal University of Ceara, R. Humberto Monte S/N, Pici, CEP: 60455-700 Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil

10.22059/ijer.2015.895

Abstract

The irrigated area of Jaguaribe, Ceara, Brazil is considered important region of agribusiness of
the country due to the installation of various fruit exporting companies. The present work has as main objective
investigate twelve types of pesticides (molinate, atrazine, methyl parathion, malathion, chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion,
pendimenthalin, triazophos, bentazone, azoxystrobin, propiconazole, difenoconazole) used in the region to assess
the level of contamination of waters used for potable and irrigation.Analysis of pesticides were performed using
chromatographic techniques (SPME-GC/MS and SPE-HPLC/DAD) through methodologies validated according
to parameters recommended by ABNT. Among the 60 water samples, 48 were positive for at least one of the
twelve active ingredients studied. Fungicides propiconazole and difenoconazole were detected more frequently.
The total pesticide levels ranging from 0.11-17.30 μg/L were detected in the samples. The levels detected in
surface and groundwater were lower than the limits established in Brazil, but 80% of the samples analyzed were
above total pesticide levels established by the European Community (>0.5 μg/L). Prolonged exposure to pesticides
can cause adverse effects to human health and the aquatic ecosystem

Keywords

Contamination

Pesticides

Surface water

Groundwater

Chromatography