Organochlorine pesticide residues in soils and sediments of the Herbert and Burdekin River regions: implications for contamination of the Great Barrier Reef

Cavanagh, J.E., Burns, K.A., Brunskill, G.J., and Coventry, R.J. (1999) Organochlorine pesticide residues in soils and sediments of the Herbert and Burdekin River regions: implications for contamination of the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 39 (1-12). pp. 367-375.

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Abstract

Organochlorine pesticides were widely used in the Australian sugarcane industry from the early 1950s until the late 1980s. Erosion of sugarcane soils and subsequent transport of sediment bound contaminants in river run-off to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon is a growing concern as the cane industry continues to expand. Organochlorine pesticide residues can be used as tracers to examine the worst-case scenario of the spatial extent to which currently used, though less persistent, organic agricultural pesticides might extend. The coastal alluvial flood-plains of the Herbert and Burdekin Rivers in North Queensland have sugarcane growing as the major coastal land-use. Sediment cores and surface sediment samples were collected from near-shore coastal regions of the Herbert and Burdekin Rivers. In addition, soil samples from cane-fields in the two catchments were collected. Analyses of the marine surface sediment samples and three sediment cores revealed the absence of detectable concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (<5 pg/g). However, easily detectable concentrations were found in the sugarcane soil samples (0.01–45 ng/g).

Item ID: 27257
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1879-3363
Keywords: organochlorines; tropical Australia; marine sediments; agricultural soils
Date Deposited: 30 May 2013 01:08
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0501 Ecological Applications > 050199 Ecological Applications not elsewhere classified @ 34%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0503 Soil Sciences > 050399 Soil Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 33%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050206 Environmental Monitoring @ 33%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9614 Soils > 961401 Coastal and Estuarine Soils @ 49%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960503 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 51%
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