Contamination by organochlorine pesticides in the aquifer of the <scp>R</scp>ing of <scp>C</scp>enotes in <scp>Y</scp>ucatán, <scp>M</scp>éxico

Rodríguez, Ángel Gabriel Polanco; Alberto, Jorge; Sánchez, J. Solorio; Mena-Rejón, Gonzalo J.; Gómez, J. Marrufo; DelValls, T.À.

doi:10.1111/wej.12080

Cited by 45 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…Cenotes are seriously contaminated (Metcalfe et al 2011, Polanco-Rodríguez et al 2015, but our results indicate that the local people perceive contamination in a different way from scientific understanding. The linguistic classification of water (Table 4) reflects local knowledge, and the terms for different perceptions of "water" are helpful to deepen the analysis of how to improve water management to go from an undesirable to a desirable state.…”

Section: Discussion: a Biocultural Approach To Cenote Conservationcontrasting

confidence: 54%

“…For example, the Reserve was so designated because of the quality of water. However, some cenotes in the Reserve have been reportedly contaminated with pesticides (Polanco-Rodríguez et al 2015). Toxic contamination was not reflected in the understanding of participants regarding water quality, and pesticides were not mentioned as a potential factor affecting groundwater, even though in five of the cenotes explored, pesticide bottles were found.…”

Section: Present-day Uses Of Cenotesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In Yucatan, most groundwater research has focused on its hydrology and environmental problems (Hernández-Terrones et al 2011, Polanco-Rodríguez et al 2015. This is of importance since successful monitoring and management often calls for a clear understanding of the groundwater system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Restoring the environment, revitalizing the culture: cenote conservation in Yucatan, Mexico

Lopez-Maldonado¹,

Berkes²

2017

E&S

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ABSTRACT. Cenotes are sinkholes through which groundwater may be accessed from the Yucatan Peninsula Aquifer. Historically and culturally, cenotes are also important cultural and spiritual natural sites for the Maya, but they have been contaminated and degraded. We ask the following: What are the present-day meanings, understanding, and values of cenotes for the Maya? Is it possible to adopt a cultural approach for conservation of cenotes in Yucatan? Participant observation, interviews with stakeholders, and underwater exploration in cenotes were used to obtain data. Results indicate that cenotes often retain some spiritual meaning for people but not as important cultural, spiritual, or sacred sites. Little consensus was found regarding the significance of cenotes and how best to protect them. Informants noted changes in water quality, and identified the threats to cenotes including tourism, poor solid waste management, contamination, and deficiency of interest in preservation. Lack of accurate knowledge was a problem: informants did not seem to understand that cenotes are interconnected through the groundwater system. The Yucatan case illustrates how loss of cultural values can be linked to environmental quality and resource degradation. Conversely, it can be argued that cultural revitalization in indigenous communities has the potential to bring back community-based conservation.Key Words: cenotes; community-based conservation; groundwater; Mayas; sacred natural sites; Yucatan INTRODUCTIONGroundwater in Yucatan is not simply a hydrological resource. Historically it had elements of sacredness perhaps related to the fact that it was an essential resource in an area without rivers. It has since lost much of its sacredness and over the decades has become contaminated. In this paper we deal with groundwaterrelated issues in Yucatan, and suggest that the way to improve conservation is through the inclusion of cultural values and renewed spiritual connections between people and their environment. Understanding cultural values, belief systems, and meanings are often necessary toward solutions; looking at nature with awe and reverence fosters sensitivity to the environment (Wild and Macleod 2008).

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Section: Discussion: a Biocultural Approach To Cenote Conservationcontrasting

confidence: 54%

Section: Present-day Uses Of Cenotesmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Restoring the environment, revitalizing the culture: cenote conservation in Yucatan, Mexico

Lopez-Maldonado¹,

Berkes²

2017

E&S

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“…The average dry season (March‐May) concentrations of p , p ´‐DDT, p , p ´‐DDE, and p , p ´‐DDD were 0.19 ppb, 0.41 ppb, and 0.90 ppb, respectively. Researchers (Polanco Rodríguez et al ) also reported the presence of organochlorine pesticides in water from the “cenotes” ring in Yucatan during rainy and dry seasons, although they reported higher concentrations. They reported p , p ´‐DDT concentration values of 16 ppb in the rainy season and 32 ppb in the dry season.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the main problems generated by the uncontrolled use of organochloride pesticides is the pollution of aquatic environments through pesticide leaching and runoff (Polanco Rodríguez et al 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Presence of DDT and Lindane in a Karstic Groundwater Aquifer in Yucatan, Mexico

Giácoman‐Vallejos¹,

Lizarraga‐Castro²,

Ponce‐Caballero³

et al. 2018

Groundwater Monitoring Rem

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Pollution caused by pesticides is becoming relevant because of their harmful environmental effects. The persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity of some organochloride pesticides have resulted in their restricted use since 1970 and a requirement to monitor them in many countries. Pesticides have endocrine, immunological, reproductive and carcinogenic effects in both humans and animals. The facilitated infiltration of substances results in the pollution of hydric underground resources in karstic limestone such as that found in the state of Yucatan. Observing the north occidental region of the state of Yucatan is particularly important as it is characterized by agricultural activities (wide use of pesticides), significant human settlements and underground water flows oriented towards the north coast. In this study, the underground water quality of a karstic aquifer was evaluated by quantifying the presence of organochlorine pesticides in 29 wells located throughout the Mérida‐Progreso transect, Yucatan, Mexico. The presence of DDT, lindane and their metabolites was detected at concentrations above the permissible limits stated by Mexican regulatory standards (NOM‐127‐SSA1‐1994 2010) in the majority of wells studied. Continuous monitoring of the underground hydric resources in this region is therefore essential to raising awareness of pollution risks and the vulnerability of the coastal north to the contamination of the underground water flows.

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COST Action 620 Approach: Application to a Karst Aquifer, SE Mexico

González-Herrera

Albornoz‐Euán

Sánchez-Pinto

et al. 2020

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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The EU Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action 620 Group approach is applied to evaluate the risk of groundwater contamination of a karstic aquifer located southeast of Mexico, to get information of potentially threatened areas. Subsurface contaminant loads, the aquifer vulnerability, as well as, the interaction between them are considered to define the aquifer risk to contamination. The hazard and risk indexes are calculated from an inventory of contaminant sources, creating their maps using geographic information system. Under the COST 620 approach, any method can be used to analyze aquifer vulnerability to contamination and new ones can be developed. This allows to model the karst groundwater vulnerability to contamination in the study area, applying a modified version of the DRASTIC method, where considerations are given to hydraulic conductivity and land use, as parameters in the model. The results indicate a more conservative differentiation when compared to similar studies carried out in the study area with the moderate vulnerability class occupying the greatest extent. Areas of high hazard and risk are in the main urban areas.

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Contamination by organochlorine pesticides in the aquifer of the Ring of Cenotes in Yucatán, México

Cited by 45 publications

References 33 publications

Restoring the environment, revitalizing the culture: cenote conservation in Yucatan, Mexico

Restoring the environment, revitalizing the culture: cenote conservation in Yucatan, Mexico

Presence of DDT and Lindane in a Karstic Groundwater Aquifer in Yucatan, Mexico

COST Action 620 Approach: Application to a Karst Aquifer, SE Mexico

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