Organochlorine pesticides in water of the Laguna Negra of Puerto Marques, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

The presence of organochlorine pesticides in aquatic systems is an issue of vital importance, because it affects non-renewable natural resources and as consequence the quality of water for organisms that live and use this resource. Coastal lagoons are aquatic systems that receive a large amount of organic matter and organic (petroleum hydrocarbons and pesticides) and inorganic (heavy metals) pollutants, where the biogeochemical and biological cycles of many species of commercial interest are carried out, as well as tourism activities. The objective of the present work was to quantify the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in the water of the Laguna Negra of Puerto Marques, Acapulco. The organochlorine compounds were determined by gas chromatography analysis with electron capture detector (Ni-63). The results obtained in the sampling sites were divided into lagoon and discharge sites and did not show a significant difference, since the total average concentrations were 5.55 and 6.02 mu g/L, respectively. It was also noted that during the dry season a total average of 6.80 mu g/L was recorded, while in the rainy season it was 3.56 mu g/L. According to the Official Mexican Standard NOM-SSA1-1994 there should be no organochlorine pesticides. Although concentrations are low (mu g/L), they can cause some alteration to organisms through bioaccumulation and biomagnification with risks to the health of the natural system and the human being.