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Title: AGROCHEMICAL INPUTS TO SOUTH FLORIDA CANALS AND BISCAYNE BAY

Author
item Hapeman, Cathleen
item Harman Fetcho, Jennifer
item McConnell, Laura
item Potter, Thomas
item Rice, Clifford
item Bialek Kalinski, Krystyna
item SCHAFFER, BRUCE - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2003
Publication Date: 9/7/2003
Citation: Hapeman, C.J., Harman-Fetcho, J.A., McConnell, L.L., Potter, T.L., Rice, C., Bialek-Kalinski, K.M., Schaffer, B.A. 2003. Agrochemical inputs to South Florida canals and Biscayne Bay [abstract]. 226th American Chemical Society National Meeting. 226:31.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Significant declines in ecosystem health of the Biscayne and Florida Bays have been reported in the past decade and include: die-off of seagrass beds; declines in sponge, coral and shellfish populations; and development of noxious algal blooms. Nearly 10 million pounds of inventoried agrochemicals are used in the South Atlantic estuarine drainage area. Previous studies have indicated the prescence of endosulfan in surface water samples collected in the Florida Bay and atrazine in the West Palm Beach-Lake Okeechobee. An exploratory project was initiated in Fall 2001 to assess the impact of intense agricultural production on air and water resources of the South Florida sensitive coastal ecosystems. Rain and air were collected over two growing seasons in Homestead, Florida (TREC-U. Florida). A second site was added in Fall 2002 at Adams Key in Biscayne National Park. During the growing season, surface water samples were collected from the Mowery Canal, from surrounding agricultural areas, and from the Biscayne Bay. Maximum concentrations of the currently-used pesticides chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos and endosulfan in the surface water samples were 79, 1.3 and 18 ng/L, respectively. In rain samples, maximum concentrations of atrazine, chlorothalonil, diazinon, and malathion were 0.6, 0.3, 15, 16 ug/L, respectively.