Presence of pyrethroid pesticides in water and sediments of Ebro River Delta

The distribution of pyrethroid insecticides of the Ebro River Delta (NE Spain) was assessed by measuring concentrations in surface water and sediment samples. Pyrethroid extraction from water was carried out by ultrasound-assisted emulsification–extraction (UAEE), while the sediment was sonicated and cleaned up using Florisil cartridge. Method detection of limits (MLODs) for the 12 pyrethroids analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometer in negative chemical ionization (GC–NCI–MS) ranged from 0.03 to 35.8 ng L−1 for water and 2.6 to 62.4 pg g−1 for sediment. Recoveries values were in the range of 47–105% for water and 51–105% for sediments, showing satisfactory robustness of the method for analyzing pyrethroids in water and sediment samples. Cypermethrin was detected in 22 water samples collected from Ebro River Delta, while deltamethrin was present only in three water samples at concentrations ranging from 0.73 ng L−1 to 57.2 ng L−1 and 2 ng L−1 to 58.8 ng L−1 for cypermethrin and deltamethrin, respectively. These concentration levels were higher than median lethal concentration (LC50) values found for deltamethrin and lower than LC50 values found for cypermethrin when short time toxic effects are considered. In sediment samples only cypermethrin was detected at concentration levels ranged from 8.27 ng g−1 to 71.9 ng g−1. These levels were higher than its LC50 values. Environmental dynamic behaviour and fate were also evaluated for cypermethrin measuring the sediment/water partition coefficient (ranging from 5.0 to 6.3) and kinetic data (half-life ranging between 13 and 50 days). Results were in good agreement to those reported in literature

The authors are grateful to Mr. Jaume Cabrera (Catalan Water Agency) for his help on the supply of water and sediment samples. This material is based upon work supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, e Innovación CEMAGUA (CGL2007-64551/HID). The authors are particularly grateful to Roser Charler for technical assistance.

Peer reviewed