Modelación mediante PWC debido a la presencia de plaguicidas organoclorados en los canales de Ampampilco y Apatlaco, Xochimilco

Despite the fact that the use and application of most organochlorine pesticides has been prohibited in Mexico, these are still been used in several cultivation areas, such as Xochimilco´s Chinampera area, specifically in the Apatlaco and Ampampilco canals. Consequently, this study reports the data found in these canals and a comparison has been made with respect to PWC modeling and international standards. The above-mentioned program estimates the concentrations that should be found in these canals if the pesticides were applied according to the recommendations. The aim of this paper is to explain what happens in the study area by comparing the calculated theoretic concentrations from each of the organochlorine pesticides, when using the Pesticide in Water Calculator (PWC), with those detected in water and surface soil and taking into account as established by international regulations. Results show that the concentrations for aldrin and dieldrin exceed the CCME limits, not so for the EPA, and for the EC the dieldrin is in acceptable limits, the aldrin exceeds these limits. Therefore, it is necessary to have a careful control and monitoring over the use of these pesticides. Endosulfan exceeds in the three international standards (CCME, EPA and CE), since it presents high levels in the calculations made with PWC.