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Title: ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION OF PESTICIDES IN THE SOUTH MIAMI-DADE BASIN

Author
item Potter, Thomas
item Hapeman, Cathleen
item McConnell, Laura
item SCHAFFER, BRUCE - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Florida Section - Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2002
Publication Date: 9/15/2002
Citation: Potter, T.L., Hapeman, C.J., Mcconnell, L.L., Schaffer, B. 2002. ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION OF PESTICIDES IN THE SOUTH MIAMI-DADE BASIN [abstract]. Florida Section - Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference 9/15-18/2002, Orange Beach, Alabama.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Well documented declines of marine organisms in the Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay, Florida Bay, the Indian River Lagoon and other near-shore environments have indicated that upland agriculture may have serious negative impacts on coastal water quality. Both nutrients leached from animal manure and fertilizers and pesticide residues are major sources of concern. In the case of pesticides, residue levels that have the potential to kill or inhibit growth and reproduction of a variety of marine organisms have been detected at many locations. Sources are presumed to be agricultural run-off and drainage, however, there is a growing body of evidence that wet and dry atmospheric deposition may also be a significant source. In 2001, we began a study to determine the types and amounts of pesticides deposited in rainfall in the South Miami-Dade Basin. Pesticides are used intensively in the region for crop production, mosquito control and urban landscape management and there are sensitive coastal environments nearby including Florida and Biscayne Bays. Our goal is to quantify the rate at which pesticides are deposited in the region through atmospheric processes. Three comprehensive monitoring stations are planned. The first station located in Homestead at the University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center was made operational this past October. In this presentation the instrumentation used, sample collection protocols, and a summary of results on samples collected between October 2001 and June 2002 will be provided.