(P659) Pesticides in the Sea of Azov ecosystem, 1985-2001 .
Semenov, Anatolyi1, Sapozhnikova, Yelena*,2, Stradomskaya, Anna1, Evgrafov, Andrei1, Chistyakov, Vladimir1, Bondarenko, Yuryi1, 1 Azov Research Institute of Fishery Problems, Rostov-on-Don, Russia2 University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
ABSTRACT- Data of sixty field trips in the Sea of Azov during 1985- 2001 have been arranged using Statistica 5 program, database management system FoxPro 2.5b. Analysis was performed using high resolution gas chromatographs HRGC-412, Nordion, Finland equipped with capillary columns of different polarity. For detection of hidden regularity of pollutants in water, the possibility of information noise decreasing was examined. Data of genotoxins in water, sediment and fish samples were taken in account as well. Results of the study showed that contaminants time-spatial distribution in water and sediments of the Sea of Azov during all considering period changed according to ecological situation in the territory of Azov basin. The maximum of contamination in the second half of 1980s corresponded to intensification of agriculture in Southern region of Russia attended by using largest quantities of pesticides. Subsequent falling off agricultural production was the main cause of significant decrease of pesticides and PCBs accumulation in the Sea ecosystem. However, local areas with rather high concentration of pesticides in water were found. Bottom sediments accumulated pesticides and PCBs, as well as other pollutants, remaining danger source of fish secondary contamination. Also, genotoxins were detected in water and sediment samples.
Key words: pesticide, pollution, Azov Sea