1992/10/30 by Cathleen J. Hapeman-Somich · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
paper · doi:10.1021/bk-1992-0510.ch013
openalex publication_date 1992/10/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The principal degradation pathways for pesticides involve photolysis, hydrolysis, dehalogenation and oxidation. Although many of these reactions have been examined extensively in the literature using technical grade material, all too often transposition from the laboratory to the field has not been straightforward. Formulating agents can act as buffers or inhibitors in hydrolysis or dehalogenation. In photolysis, a light source inappropriate for field use may have been used, the formulating agents may absorb the photon energy or the solution may have been too opaque for light penetration. Oxidation processes are not always effective for all compounds, particularly organochlorines. In addition, formulating agents and surfactants can quench or remove the oxidative species. Recent field studies have also shown that fertilizers present in pesticide rinsates can deter degradation. In the past, disappearance of parent material was considered to be evidence for complete degradation, but clearly, products are formed whose toxicities and overall fate must be considered.