Residues of the herbicides simazine, metribuzin, metolachlor, trifluralin, atrazine, and two metabolites of atrazine, deisopropylatrazine (DIA) and deethylatrazine (DEA), are surveyed in the surface and groundwater of the Primavera do Leste region, Mato Grosso, Brazil during September and December 1998 and April 1999. Different water source sampling stations of groundwater (irrigation water well, drinking water well, and water hole) and surface water (dam and river) are set up based on agricultural land use. A solid-phase extraction procedure followed by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detection is used for the determination of these compounds. All compounds are detected at least once in water samples. A temporal trend of pesticide contamination is observed, with the highest contamination frequency occurring in December during the main application season. Metribuzin shows the highest individual detection frequencies throughout the monitoring period, followed by metolachlor, simazine, and DEA. The maximum mean concentrations of pesticides in this study are in the range from 0.14 to 1.7 microg/L. We deduct that the contamination of water resources is predominantly caused by non-point pollution of pesticides used in intensive cash-crop cultures of the Cerrado area. Therefore, a continuous monitoring of pesticide concentrations in water resources of this tropical region is necessary to detect the longer term contamination trends and developing health risks.

The environmental behaviour of metolachlor and diuron was studied in the Central-western region of Brazil, by means of a field study where six experimental plots were installed. The soil was classified as a Latosol, and the soil horizons were characterized. Sorption of metolachlor and diuron was evaluated in laboratory batch experiments. Metolachlor and diuron were applied to the experimental plots on uncultivated soil in October 2003. From this date to March 2004, the following processes were studied: leaching, runoff and dissipation in top soil. K oc of metolachlor varied from 179 to 264 mL g −1 in the soil horizons. K oc of diuron in the Ap horizon was 917 mL g −1 , decreasing significantly in the deeper horizons. Field dissipation half-lives of metolachlor and diuron were 18 and 15 days, respectively. In percolated water, metolachlor was detected in concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 2.84 μg L −1 . In runoff water and sediment, metolachlor was detected in decreasing concentrations throughout the period of study. Losses of 0.02% and 0.54% of the applied amount by leaching and runoff, respectively, were observed confirming the high mobility of this herbicide in the environment. In percolated water, diuron was detected with low frequency but in relatively high concentrations (up to 6.29 μg L −1 ). In runoff water and soil, diuron was detected in decreasing concentrations until 70 days after application, totalizing 13.9% during the whole sampling period. These results show the importance of practices to reduce runoff avoiding surface water contamination by these pesticides, particularly diuron.

Sorption of acetamiprid ((E)-N1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-N2-cyano-N1-methylacetamidine), carbendazim (methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate), diuron (N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N, N-dimethyl urea) and thiamethoxam (3-(2-chloro-thiazol-5-ylmethyl)-5-methyl-[1,3,5]oxadiazinan-4-ylidene-N-nitroamine) was evaluated in two Brazilian tropical soils, Oxisol and Entisol, from Primavera do Leste region, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. To describe the sorption process, batch experiments were carried out. Linear and Freundlich isotherm models were used to calculate the K(d) and K(f) coefficients from experimental data. The K(d) values were utilized to calculate the partition coefficient normalized to soil organic carbon (K(oc)). For the pesticides acetamiprid, carbendazim, diuron and thiamenthoxan the K(oc) (mL g(- 1)) values ranged in both soils from 98 - 3235, 1024 - 2644, 145 - 2631 and 104 - 2877, respectively. From the studied pesticides, only carbendazim presented correlation (r(2) = 0.82 and p < 0.01) with soil organic carbon (OC) content. Acetamiprid and thiamethoxam showed low sorption coefficients, representing a high risk of surface and ground water contamination.

Foi desenvolvido um método multirresíduos empregando CLAE/DAD para a determinação de doze pesticidas em águas subterrâneas em lavouras de algodão, baseado em extração em fase sólida, utilizado como adsorvente o copolímero estireno divinilbenzeno (SDVB). O método foi validado e obtiveram-se recuperações entre 73 e 113%, desvio padrão relativo entre 2 e 16% e limites de detecção variando de 0,06 a 0,57 µg L -1. O método foi aplicado em 110 amostras de águas subterrâneas de lavouras de algodão localizadas em Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, Brasil. Dos pesticidas analisados, oito (acetamiprido, aldicarbe, carbendazim, carbofurano, diurom, imidacloprido, metomil e teflubenzurom) foram detectados nas amostras de água, sendo que 18% continham pelo menos um dos pesticidas, com concentrações variando de 0,78 a 68,79 µg L -1 , excedendo em alguns casos, os níveis estabelecidos pela União Européia. Esses resultados confirmam a vulnerabilidade do lençol freático no que diz respeito à contaminação por pesticidas.Aiming to evaluate the contamination of groundwater by pesticides in cotton growing areas, an SPE-based method (styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer -SDVB) was developed for the simultaneous determination of twelve pesticides in water by HPLC/DAD. The method was validated and average recoveries ranged from 73 to 113%, with a relative standard deviation of 2 to 16%. Detection limits ranged from 0.06 to 0.57 µg L -1 . The method was applied to groundwater samples (110) from cotton fields located in "Primavera do Leste", Mato Grosso state, Brazil. Eight pesticides (acetamiprid, aldicarb, carbendazin, carbofuran, diuron, imidacloprid, methomyl and teflubenzuron) were found in the analyzed groundwater samples and 18% of them contained at least one of the pesticides (with concentrations ranging from 0.78 to 68.79 µg L -1 ). In some cases, detected concentrations exceeded the target levels set by the European Union. These findings confirm the vulnerability of shallow groundwater in the aforementioned areas to pesticide contamination.

Foi desenvolvido um estudo sobre a presença dos herbicidas simazina, metribuzim, metolacloro, trifluralina, atrazina e seus metabólitos desisopropilatrazina (DIA) e desetilatrazina (DEA) em água superficial e subterrânea da região de Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, Brasil. O procedimento analítico baseou-se na extração em fase sólida com cartuchos descartáveis Sep-Pak C 18 e eluição com acetato de etila. Os níveis de resíduos foram determinados por cromatografia a gás com detector de nitrogênio e fósforo. Para a maior parte dos pesticidas, a recuperação média nos diferentes níveis de fortificação foi >70% com estimativa do desvio padrão relativo <19%. As recuperações observadas para o DIA e a trifluralina foram 25% e 56%, respectivamente. As baixas recuperações foram atribuídas à retenção incompleta do DIA e à forte retenção no sorvente e alta volatilidade da trifluralina. Os limites de detecção variaram de 0,023 a 0,088 μg L -1 . Este método foi aplicado na análise de 5 amostras de águas superficiais e 28 de águas subterrâneas, em pontos usados para abastecimento de água para consumo humano, coletadas em Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso. O nível mais elevado encontrado nas amostras de água foi 1,732 μg L -1 de metolacloro enquanto o herbicida encontrado com maior freqüência foi o metribuzim.A study on the presence of herbicides, namely simazine, metribuzin, metolachlor, trifluralin, atrazine and two metabolites, deisopropylatrazine (DIA) and deethylatrazine (DEA), was performed in ground and surface waters from Primavera do Leste region, Mato Grosso state (Middle West of Brazil). The analytical procedure was based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) with Sep-Pak C 18 disposable cartridges and ethyl acetate for elution solvent. Residue levels were determined by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. For most of the pesticides average recoveries at different fortification levels were >70% with relative standard deviation <19%. The recoveries of DIA and trifluralin in water were 25% and 56%, respectively, which were attributed to the incomplete retention of DIA and strong retention on the sorbing material and high volatility of trifluralin. Detection limits ranged from 0.023 to 0.088 μg L -1 . This method was applied for the analysis of 5 superficial water samples and 28 groundwater samples, in places used for human consumption without previous treatment, collected in Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Results indicated that the highest level of contamination in a water sample was 1.732 μg L -1 for metolachlor, while metribuzin was the most frequently detected herbicide with maximum concentration of 0.351 μg L -1 .Keywords: solid-phase extraction, water, herbicides, pesticides, GC-NPD IntroductionThe Primavera do Leste region (Mato Grosso state, Middle West of Brazil) is an area with a high agricultural production, that has expanded greatly since its start 30 years ago. As consequence of the monoculture conditions under which soybean, cotton, rice, maize and bean are grown, they are susceptible t...