ABSTRACT
In the last decades, research regarding the dynamics of pesticides has grown, even in remote regions. Due to long-range atmospheric transport, environmental persistence and toxicological potential of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), similar characteristics of current-use pesticides (CUPs) and their massive use in Brazil, these contaminants have become a major concern for environmental and human life. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate subgroups or individual chemicals of OCPs and CUPs, which could have travelled over two Conservation Unit sites in the Rio de Janeiro state. The study was carried out for 24 months, (2013-2015), in Itatiaia National Park (INP) and in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (SONP), at â¼2400 and â¼2200 meters above sea level, respectively. The study was based on atmospheric passive sampling (polyurethane foam disks). Target pesticides were detected by means of gas chromatography device coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Significantly higher concentrations were measured in SONP when compared to INP. However, in broad terms, the contamination profile was quite similar for both national parks: The highest concentrations of endosulfan (INP - 1275â¯pgâ¯m-3 and SONP - 3202â¯pgâ¯m-3) were followed by cypermethrin (INP - 148â¯pgâ¯m-3 and SONP - 881â¯pgâ¯m-3) and chlorpyrifos (INP - 67â¯pgâ¯m-3 and SONP - 270â¯pgâ¯m-3). In agreement with previous studies, the atmospheric concentrations of legacy OCPs showed background air levels. The decrease of endosulfan over the years was highlighted with a parallel increase of chlorpyrifos, suggesting a collateral effect of the national bias of permissive and massive use of agrochemicals. CUPs seemed to behave like pseudo-persistent pollutants (pseudo-POPs). This is the first report of atmospheric concentrations of pyrethroids in Brazilian mountain regions, and possibly the first to investigate them in the air in South America or in any mountain region in the world.