ABSTRACT
Pesticides are well known for their persistence in the environment their slow degradation and high toxicity. Aquatic environments, while not the target of many pesticide applications, often receive these chemicals from their catchments through runoff dynamics. Here, we assessed pesticide concentrations of acetamiprid and chlorpyrifos in water and sediment across macadamia orchard and communal area reservoirs in the Levubu area, South Africa, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Analysis of acetamiprid and chlorpyrifos associated with sediments in macadamia orchard reservoirs revealed mean pesticide concentrations of 14.48 µg L−1 and 5.67 µg L−1, respectively, whereas, in communal area reservoirs both pesticides were not detected. Acetamiprid was not detected across reservoir water, whereas the mean pesticide concentration of chlorpyrifos of 6.51 µg L−1 (macadamia orchard) and 0.13 µg L−1 (communal area) were detected. Significant differences were observed for chlorpyrifos concentrations in water samples between macadamia orchard and communal area reservoirs, whereas acetamiprid and chlorpyrifos indicated non-significant differences in sediments. The results indicate that macadamia orchard reservoirs are highly contaminated by acetamiprid and chlorpyrifos. Consequently, these pesticides can alter water quality and ecosystem functioning by reducing species diversity, adjusting community structure, altering energy flow and nutrient recycling.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the Department of Nutrition at the University of Venda for the use of the Shimadzu High Performance Liquid Chromatograph Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (LCMS-8045). We would like to extend our gratitude to Lutendo Phophi for assisting during sample collection
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available as they are part of a larger study that is currently ongoing but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Notes on contributors
Thendo Mutshekwa
Thendo Mutshekwa recently completed his PhD Environmental Sciences studies at the University of Venda and was awarded an NRF Postdoctoral Fellow.
Lutendo Mugwedi
Lutendo Mugwedi is a Senior Lecturer of Environmental Sciences at the University of Venda and Chair of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa.
Babra Moyo
Babra Moyo is Technical Officer and a PhD Chemistry candidate at the University of Venda, South Africa.
Ntakadzeni E. Madala
Ntakadzeni E. Madala is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and currently Acting Deputy Dean Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, South Africa.
Ryan J. Wasserman
Ryan J. Wasserman is an Associate Professor of Zoology at Rhodes University and also a Research Associate, South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity.
Farai Dondofema
Farai Dondofema is a Chief Technician and Lecturer at the University of Venda.
Tatenda Dalu
Tatenda Dalu is a Senior Lecturer of Aquatic Ecology at University of Mpumalanga and also a Research Associate, South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity.