Occurrence and distribution of endosulfan in water, sediment, and fish tissue: an ecological assessment of protected lands in south Florida.

Over the past 30 years, endosulfan, one of the last polychlorinated pesticides still in use, has received considerable attention and has been the subject of a number of international regulations and restriction action plans worldwide. This study aimed to monitor the presence and to assess the potential transport of endosulfan within the protected areas of Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Big Cypress National Preserve, South Florida, USA. Endosulfan sulfate was the major metabolite detected in all matrices in areas along the C-111 and C-111E canals, which drain the Homestead agricultural area and discharge to either Florida or Biscayne Bays, both of which are critical wildlife habitats. Endosulfan concentrations of up to 158 ng L(-1) and 57 ng g(-1) were observed in surface water and sediments, respectively, which exceeded the U.S. EPA's chronic water quality criteria (56 ng L(-1)). Elevated levels of up to 371 ng g(-1) of endosulfan sulfate were detected in whole fish tissue.

Assessing the effects of Irgarol 1051 on marine phytoplankton populations in Key Largo Harbor, Florida.

The antifouling boosting agent Irgarol 1051 is a strong inhibitor of the photosystem II (PSII) with high efficiency/toxicity towards algae. However, because some phytoplankton species are more sensitive to Irgarol than others, its persistent release into the environment could result in adverse changes in the phytoplankton community structure at heavily impacted sites such as marinas. Continuous monitoring in the Florida Keys showed Irgarol concentrations of up to 635 ngL(-1) in the canal system leading to Key Largo Harbor Marina (KLH) with a sharp decrease in concentration at stations offshore from the mouth of the canal. Preliminary phytoplankton community assessments from surface water samples collected in KLH between February and August 2004 showed changes in several phytoplankton species in concordance with the increase of the herbicide concentrations. Typical responses include an increase in the abundance of eukaryotes and Cryptomonas sp. as Irgarol concentrations increase.