92
Water In Ecosystems: A Non Renewable Resource
However, earlier studies on pesticides, no longer used, because of their high
toxicity, such as Lindane (y HCH), Toxaphene and Chlordane, show that these
compounds can also reach the polar regions. They are also found in the Great
Lakes of America, where they persist. The concentrations are high, of the order of
some 10 /lmole.I- I .
One should therefore remain prudent about the possibilities of general
contamination of the ecosystem by these new compounds which can persist in the
environment because of their resistance to degradation. One can nevertheless think
that the load in the atmosphere must remain limited. It is not perhaps the same for
uncultivated soils, such as the prairies, and the water of rivers and lakes in remote
regions.
4
CONCLUSION
The study concerning the atmospheric transport of xenobiotic compounds,
produced by human activity and often dangerous for human health, shows that
these compounds, usually considered to be present in trace amounts in the
atmosphere, can accumulate in the environment close to or very far from the
sources of production and use. Mapping their geographical distribution is a long
task, since it necessitates many campaigns and long periods of analysis.
Nonetheless, this work provides a set of data which can eventually be used to
follow the future evolution of these compounds in the environment. It remains
also to put a figure to the impact of these compounds on health. At present there
are no epidemiological studies showing direct correlations between morbidity and
the levels of these compounds in the environment. However, more attention should
be given to them in estimating global atmospheric pollution and health effects.
KEYWORDS
Contamination, pesticide, water, atmospheric, pollution, ecosystems, lake
contamination, P AH, aquatic system.
REFERENCES
[1]
Atlas E., Long range transport of organic compounds. in Knap A. H. (ed.) NATO AS! Series,
Dordrecht, The Netherlands, KLUWER, Acad. Pub!., 105-135 (1990).
[2]
Barrie L. A., Gregor D., Hargrave B., Lake R., Muir D., Shearer R, Tracey B. and Bidleman
T., Arctic contaminants: sources, occurence and pathways. Sci. Total. Environ., 122,1-74
(1992).
[3]
Masclet P., Mouvier G. and Nikolaou K., Relative decay index and sources of PAH. Atmos.
Environ., 20, 439 (1996).
[4]
Muir D. C. G., Grift N. P., Ford C. A., Reiger A. W., Hendzel M. R and Lockhart W. L.,
Evidence for long range transport of Toxaphene to remote arctic and subarctic waters from
monitoring of fish tissues. in "Long range transport of pesticides" Kurtz D. A. (ed), Lewis
Pub!., 329-347 (1990).
[5]
Pelizzetti E., Maurino Y., Minero C., Carlin Y., Pramauro E., Zerbinatii O. and Tosato M.,
Photocatalytic degradation of Atrazine and others s-Triazine Herbicides. Environ. Sci.
Techno!., 24, 1559-1565, (1990).
[6]
Yoldner E. C. and Schroeder W. H., Long range transport and deposition of Toxaphene. in
"Long range transport of pesticides" Kurtz D. A. (ed), Lewis Pub!., 223-233 (1990).
Water In Ecosystems: A Non Renewable Resource
However, earlier studies on pesticides, no longer used, because of their high
toxicity, such as Lindane (y HCH), Toxaphene and Chlordane, show that these
compounds can also reach the polar regions. They are also found in the Great
Lakes of America, where they persist. The concentrations are high, of the order of
some 10 /lmole.I- I .
One should therefore remain prudent about the possibilities of general
contamination of the ecosystem by these new compounds which can persist in the
environment because of their resistance to degradation. One can nevertheless think
that the load in the atmosphere must remain limited. It is not perhaps the same for
uncultivated soils, such as the prairies, and the water of rivers and lakes in remote
regions.
4
CONCLUSION
The study concerning the atmospheric transport of xenobiotic compounds,
produced by human activity and often dangerous for human health, shows that
these compounds, usually considered to be present in trace amounts in the
atmosphere, can accumulate in the environment close to or very far from the
sources of production and use. Mapping their geographical distribution is a long
task, since it necessitates many campaigns and long periods of analysis.
Nonetheless, this work provides a set of data which can eventually be used to
follow the future evolution of these compounds in the environment. It remains
also to put a figure to the impact of these compounds on health. At present there
are no epidemiological studies showing direct correlations between morbidity and
the levels of these compounds in the environment. However, more attention should
be given to them in estimating global atmospheric pollution and health effects.
KEYWORDS
Contamination, pesticide, water, atmospheric, pollution, ecosystems, lake
contamination, P AH, aquatic system.
REFERENCES
[1]
Atlas E., Long range transport of organic compounds. in Knap A. H. (ed.) NATO AS! Series,
Dordrecht, The Netherlands, KLUWER, Acad. Pub!., 105-135 (1990).
[2]
Barrie L. A., Gregor D., Hargrave B., Lake R., Muir D., Shearer R, Tracey B. and Bidleman
T., Arctic contaminants: sources, occurence and pathways. Sci. Total. Environ., 122,1-74
(1992).
[3]
Masclet P., Mouvier G. and Nikolaou K., Relative decay index and sources of PAH. Atmos.
Environ., 20, 439 (1996).
[4]
Muir D. C. G., Grift N. P., Ford C. A., Reiger A. W., Hendzel M. R and Lockhart W. L.,
Evidence for long range transport of Toxaphene to remote arctic and subarctic waters from
monitoring of fish tissues. in "Long range transport of pesticides" Kurtz D. A. (ed), Lewis
Pub!., 329-347 (1990).
[5]
Pelizzetti E., Maurino Y., Minero C., Carlin Y., Pramauro E., Zerbinatii O. and Tosato M.,
Photocatalytic degradation of Atrazine and others s-Triazine Herbicides. Environ. Sci.
Techno!., 24, 1559-1565, (1990).
[6]
Yoldner E. C. and Schroeder W. H., Long range transport and deposition of Toxaphene. in
"Long range transport of pesticides" Kurtz D. A. (ed), Lewis Pub!., 223-233 (1990).