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ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN THE AMBIENT AIR OF MEXICO
Citation:
ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN THE AMBIENT AIR OF MEXICO. (2002).
Impact/Purpose:
This project will supply the EPA and other partners with data that can be used to determine the sources of persistent toxic substances from outside the Great Lakes System.
Description:
Recent and past use of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Mexico has resulted in concentrations in ambient air that are 1-2 orders of magnitude above levels in the Great Lakes region. Atmospheric transport from Mexico and Central America may be contributing significant amounts of OCPs to the Great Lakes. This project will measure concentrations of OCPs in air and soil in Mexico, which will help estimate potential for emissions and transport to other areas. The monitoring sites will be in Chiapas, a state in southeastern Mexico bordering Guatemala. The project will also provide training and experience in analysis of OCPs to Mexican scientists. This work is also relevant under the Long-Range Transport challenge of the U.S.-Canada Binational Toxics Strategy, as well as under the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment North American Regional Action Plan (NARAP) produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation's Sound Management of Chemicals program.