Ecology

Findings from Research Institute Broaden Understanding of Benzothiepins

  2012 JUL 20 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Ecology, Environment & Conservation -- Data detailed on Benzothiepins have been presented. According to news originating from Narrabri, Australia, by VerticalNews correspondents, researchers stated "Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) such as DDT and DDE have been detected in the surface 0.2m of Vertisols in the lower Namoi Valley of north western New South Wales, Australia even though they have not been applied to crops since 1982. However, their presence in the deeper soil horizons has not been investigated."

  Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research by the authors from Research Institute, "The objective of this study was to determine if OCPs were present to a depth of 1.2m in Vertisols under irrigated cotton farming systems in the lower Namoi Valley of New South Wales. Soil was sampled from the 0-1.2m depths in three sites, viz. the Australian Cotton Research Institute, ACRI, near Narrabri (149°36'E, 30°12'S), and two cotton farms near Wee Waa (149°27'E, 30°13'S) and Merah North (149°18'E, 30°12'S) in northern New South Wales, Australia. The OCPs detected and their metabolites were a-endosulfan, ß-endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate, DDD, DDE, DDT and endrin. The metabolite DDE, a breakdown product of DDT, was the most persistent OCP in all depths analysed. Endosulfan sulphate was the second most persistent followed by endrin >a-endosulfan >ß-endosulfan >DDT and DDD. DDT was sprayed extensively in the lower Namoi Valley up to the early 1980s and may explain the persistence of DDE in the majority of soil samples. Dicofol and Dieldrin, two OCPs previously undocumented in Vertisols were also detected. The movement of OCPs into the subsoil of Vertisols may occur when irrigation or rain transports soil colloids and organic matter via preferential flow systems into the deeper layers of a soil profile. Persistence of OCPs was closely correlated to soil organic carbon concentrations. The persistence in soil of OCP's applied to cotton crops grown more than two decades ago suggests that they could enter the food chain."

  According to the news editors, the researchers concluded: "Their presence at depths of 1.2m suggests that they could move into groundwater that may eventually be used for domestic and stock consumption."

  For more information on this research see: Organochlorine pesticides in soil under irrigated cotton farming systems in Vertisols of the Namoi Valley, north-western New South Wales, Australia. Chemosphere, 2012;88(3):336-43. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Chemosphere - www.elsevier.com/wps/product/cws_home/362)

  The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from T.B. Weaver, Australian Cotton Research Institute, NSW Dept. of Primary Industries, Narrabri, NSW 2390, Australia.

  Keywords for this news article include: Narrabri, Endosulfan, Food Chain, Benzothiepins, Australia and New Zealand.

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