Pollutants in drainage channels following long‐term application of Mancozeb to banana plantations in southeastern Mexico

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate how long‐term Mancozeb application to banana plantations affects the occurrence of pollutants in drainage‐channel sediment and water under tropical conditions. We estimated the possible accumulation of Mancozeb's principal metabolite ethylenethiourea (ETU), as well as manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) as components in channel sediment and water. We took samples during the tropical‐rainfall season and the low‐rainfall season. For sediment samples, we determined the contents of ETU, Mn, and Zn. For water samples, we determined the concentration of ETU. Additionally, we took water samples from a runnel that is the receiving body of hydraulic flow from the system. In both seasons, ETU in the sediment was near the detection limit (0.01 mg kg–1) and did not show any accumulation. However, Mn in sediment at all sampling sites exceeded the threshold values for aquatic life of 630 mg kg–1 with values between 635 and 7256 mg kg–1. The Zn concentrations in sediment varied from 87 to 190 mg kg–1 and exceeded the threshold values for aquatic life of 98 mg kg–1 at several sites. Furthermore, we determined an accumulation of these heavy metals in the sediments of the banana‐planted zone in comparison with sediments in pasture reference sites. In contrast to the low concentration of ETU in sediment, its concentration in drainage and runnel water (5.9–13.8 μg L–1) exceeded the EU threshold value for drinking water (0.1 μg L–1) by up to nearly 140 times. However, the threshold value for aquatic life was not exceeded. We conclude that long‐term Mancozeb application does lead to a severe accumulation of Mn in sediments and of ETU in surface water. New strategies should be used to control black Sigatoka, including integrated methods of pest control so that long‐term negative effects on the environment can be avoided.

The effects of zinc nanooxide on cellular stress responses of the freshwater mussels Unio tumidus are modulated by elevated temperature and organic pollutants

“…The concentration of fungicide Tattoo [a commercial formulation containing 45% of propamocarb-HCl (propyl-3-(dimethylamino) propylcarbamate and 55% of mancozeb, or Zn, Mn ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) [-SCSNH(CH 2 ) 2 NHCSSMn-]n(Zn) m(Mn)] used in this study was based on the higher limits of the ecologically relevant concentrations for fresh water (USEPA, 2005). The EU threshold value for drinking water for mancozeb's principal metabolite ethylenethiourea is 0.1 g L −1 , whereas its concentration in the agricultural drainage and runoff can reach 5.9-13.8 g L −1 (Melgar et al, 2008). It is worth noting that Tattoo contains Zn in low concentrations, and in the areas of the intensive application of Tattoo, elevated Zn concentrations were found in the sediment (87-190 mg kg −1 exceeding the threshold values for aquatic life of 98 mg kg −1 at several sites) (Melgar et al, 2008).…”

“…The EU threshold value for drinking water for mancozeb's principal metabolite ethylenethiourea is 0.1 g L −1 , whereas its concentration in the agricultural drainage and runoff can reach 5.9-13.8 g L −1 (Melgar et al, 2008). It is worth noting that Tattoo contains Zn in low concentrations, and in the areas of the intensive application of Tattoo, elevated Zn concentrations were found in the sediment (87-190 mg kg −1 exceeding the threshold values for aquatic life of 98 mg kg −1 at several sites) (Melgar et al, 2008).…”

“…Nifedipine (Nfd) is a calcium influx inhibitor, which is widely used as a cheap antianginal and antihypertensive medicine and is a common pollutant in municipal sewage treatment plants effluents and surface waters (Heberer, 2002;Kolpin et al, 2002). Carbamate fungicides, including the mancozeb and maneb-containing commercial fungicide Tattoo used in this study, are among the most common non-source pollutants (Melgar et al, 2008;Noel and Billo Bah, 2009) and were listed as pesticides of concern due to their reproductive and/or endocrine disrupting effects (Keith, 1998). Our earlier study has also shown that Tattoo has negative impacts on freshwater unionid bivalves including genotoxic and pro-oxidant effects (increased levels of nuclear abnormalities in hemocytes as well as DNA-strand breaks and oxyradical lesions in the digestive gland) (Falfushynska et al, 2013a).…”

Ranging behaviour, activity, habitat use, and morphology of the Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga) on Peninsular Malaysia and comparison with studies on Borneo and Sulawesi

“…Within our study area, we found some indications of humaninduced mortality in Malay civets; for instance, within the plantation we found the remains of a radio-collar that had clearly been cut off from one female (F3). Other likely threats to this species include pesticides that are applied in plantations; these contaminate groundwater systems and carnivore prey (through bioaccumulation), which can eventually lead to adverse health problems in carnivore species that forage in these areas (Elliott et al, 1999;Melgar et al, 2008).…”

Decay characteristics and erosion-related transport of glyphosate in Chinese loess soil under field conditions

“…Contaminated environmental systems and threatened food safety, the unexpected consequences of pesticide application, however, have become worldwide issues in recent decades (Geissen et al, 2010;Richards and Baker, 1993;Ruiz-Suarez et al, 2014). Pesticides applied to farmland can accumulate onsite or be transported offsite during the process of decay (Glotfelty et al, 1984;Melgar et al, 2008;Ongley et al, 2010). Pesticide registration, production, and application are thus supervised and even restricted based on the physicochemical properties, i.e.…”