Diffusion–advection process modeling of organochlorine pesticides in rivers

Abstract

This paper deals with the diffusion–advection process modeling of organochlorine pesticides (OCP_s) dissolved in a topical river. The novelty consists of proposing mathematical expressions to estimate the physical coefficients (molecular diffusion, advective diffusion, partition) and biochemical coefficients (substrate utilization rate) of OCP_s advection–diffusion processes combined to OCP_s biochemical transformation processes. The OCP_s involved were DDT_s (p.p’-DDT, o.p’-DDT, p.p’-DDD, p.p’-DDE, o.p’-DDE) and DRIN_s (Aldrin, Dieldrin and Endrin). Four scenarios for simulating the OCP_s transport were calibrated: (1) molecular diffusion, (2) biochemical transformation, (3) advection–diffusion and (4) a combination of advection–diffusion, biochemical transformation and sorption/desorption processes. The evaluated scenarios predicted with a good approach to the OCP_s’s spatio-temporal distribution with a prediction capability within an interval until 1.5 standard deviation with respect to the mean of difference between observed and simulated OCP_s The scenario N°4 associated to a coupled model offered a suitable prediction of processes for a tropical river.

KEYWORDS:

• Organochlorine pesticides
• organochlorine pesticide transport
• organochlorine pesticide transformation

Acknowledgements

A special acknowledgement is given to the members of laboratory of the Ministry of Environment, Venezuela by allowing the application of OCP_s analysis in water and sediments and Center of Hydrological and Environmental Research, University of Carabobo, Venezuela by contributing to mathematical modeling.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data used for characterizing of the organochlorine pesticides in water and sediments of Tucutunemo river are available in Cárdenas et al. (2018) and Cardenas et al. (2019). The parameters of statistical models generated during the study appear in the submitted article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

S. Cardenas

S. Cardenas was born in Ecuador, in 1950. He received the BS degree in Agronomic Engineering in 1979 at the Central University of the Venezuela; MSc, degree in Environmental Engineering since 2002 and the PhD student in Engineering at the University of Carabobo from 2016 to the present. From 1991 to the present, Samuel is professor of Statistical Methods in School of Commercial Administration at the University of Carabobo. From 2006 to the present, Samuel is member of the Center for Hydrological and Environmental Research (CIHAM-UC) belonging to the University of Carabobo.

A. Márquez

A. Márquez was born in Venezuela, in 1976. She received the BS degree in Civil Engineering in 1999, the MS degree in Environmental Engineering in 2006 and the PhD degree in Engineering in 2011. The three academic degrees were obtained at the University of Carabobo (UC), Venezuela. From 2002 to the present, she is professor in School of Civil Engineering. From 2006, she is member and co-founder of the Center for Hydrological and Environmental Research (CIHAM-UC) belonging to the University of Carabobo. From 2015 to the present, she has performed the role of CIHAM-UC Coordinator. From 2013 to the present, she is member and coordinator of UC master program on environmental engineering. From 2017 to the present, she is member of UC engineering doctorate program focused in environmental area at the UC. She is the author of three books, more than 30 scientific articles, and more than 30 participations in scientist events at international, national and regional scales. In the area of remote sensing, she has been the advisor of more than 25 thesis approved under UC master program on environmental engineering, 1 thesis approved under the UC engineering doctorate program. Her research interests include remote sensing of environmental, integrated management of watersheds and water resources, phenomena of transport and transformation of pollutants in the environment.

E. Guevara

E. Guevara was born in Peru in 1943. In 1968 he received his Bachelor of Science degree and his degree in Agricultural Engineering from the National Agrarian University, Lima, Peru. In 1970 he obtained his master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Justus Liebig University; in 1972, his doctor degree from Christian Albrechts University, Federal Republic of Germany; and in 1973, his specialization in irrigation and drainage engineering and saline soils from the German Foundation for Development. In 1993 he also obtained a master's degree in Chemical Engineering-Fertilizer Business from the Carabobo University, Venezuela; and a Postdoctoral Diploma (Visiting Professor) in Water Resources Management, Integrated Watershed Management and Environmental Management, from Colorado State University, USA in 1996. In 2007 he founded the Center for Hydrological and Environmental Research at the University of Carabobo (CIHAM -UC) being its Director until 2014. He coordinated 16 research projects in Water Resources Management; Integrated Management of Watersheds and Environment, developed at CIHAM UC. Since 2014 he has been a member of the National Water Court of the National Water Authority of Peru. Since 2008 he has been a Visiting Professor in the Master’s and PhD programs in water resources at the National Agrarian University of Peru. Since 2017, Dr. Guevara has been a member of the National Academy of Engineering and Habitat of Venezuela. He is the author / co-author of 24 text and reference books, 130 publications in indexed technical journals and more than 100 articles refereed in national and international conferences.