Some models for the adsorption kinetics of pesticides in soil

Abstract

Three models describing adsorption‐desorption kinetics of pesticides in soil, that could be incorporated into computer programs on pesticide movement in soil, were discussed, The first model involved single first‐order rate equations for adsorption and desorption. Results from an analytical and a numerical solution for local equilibration were compared. Concentration‐time relationships for the solution and adsorbed phases were calculated for different rate constants, initial conditions, and partition ratios at equilibrium. The second model described simultaneous adsorption‐desorption equilibration with two mechanisms, both with their own rate constants. After a comparatively fast equilibration with the first mechanism, there was a gradual increase in extent of overall‐adsorption, accompanied with a shift to greater amounts adsorbed by the second mechanism. With the third model, adsorption equilibration occurred by diffusion into a stagnant region. With diffusion distances ranging from 0.1 to 4.0 cm, the time needed for approach to adsorption equilibrium varied from about 0.25 days to about one year. Some of the possibilities of these models were discussed considering published experimental results.     

A monitoring study of workers handling pesticides in warehouses and godowns

Abstract

Monitoring observations made on 60 operators involved in pesticide application work in godowns and warehouses and 60 matched control workers are reported. Occupational exposure history and medical history are noted. Biochemical investigations, plasma and RBC cholinesterase estimations are included along with medical examination of the workers. Workers were found to be mostly exposed to Celphos, DDVP, Malathion, Pyrethrum, etc, and the use of protective devices were very limited. Cases of significant reduction in plasma and RBC cholinesterase activity were found. Frequency of symptoms like dizziness, headache, lachrymation, burning sensation in eyes, nausea and anorexia, etc, were much more in the exposed workers. No cases of clinical poisoning attributable to occupational exposure to pesticides were reported by the workers.     

Comparative toxicity of some pesticides on human health and some aquatic species

Abstract

Inhibition studies have been carried on the hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by cholinesterases taken from electric eel, human and horse serums by Sevin, Aldrin and Malathion. Three esters of p‐nitrophenol have been used as substrates. The degree of inhibition has been used as a measure of the comparative toxicity of these pesticides on these cholinesterases.     

Residues of organochlorine pesticides in fishes in Sudan

Abstract

Cotton‐producing areas of the Centrol Sudan, bordered by the Blue and the White Nile, have been subjected to repeated applications of pesticides. This region is irrigated by a series of canals, the Gezira canals, which hold large amounts of fresh water. Lake Nubia at the Sudan‐Egypt border is another important fresh water reservoir and fisheries ground. Fish from both the Gezira and Lake Nubia showed elevated concentrations of pesticides, suggesting that continued pesticides application would endanger the equatic fauna of this region and the proposed fresh water fishery.     

Effects of multiple but low pesticide loads on aquatic fungal communities colonizing leaf litter

In the first tier risk assessment (RA) of pesticides, risk for aquatic communities is estimated by using results from standard laboratory tests with algae, daphnids and fish for single pesticides such as herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. However, fungi as key organisms for nutrient cycling in ecosystems as well as multiple pesticide applications are not considered in the RA. In this study, the effects of multiple low pesticide pulses using regulatory acceptable concentrations (RACs) on the dynamics of non-target aquatic fungi were investigated in a study using pond mesocosm. For that, fungi colonizing black alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaves were exposed to multiple, low pulses of 11 different pesticides over a period of 60 days using a real farmer''s pesticide application protocol for apple cropping. Four pond mesocosms served as treatments and 4 as controls. The composition of fungal communities colonizing the litter material was analyzed using a molecular fingerprinting approach based on the terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (t-RFLP) of the fungal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) gene(s). Our data indicated a clear fluctuation of fungal communities based on the degree of leaf litter degradation. However significant effects of the applied spraying sequence were not observed. Consequently also degradation rates of the litter material were not affected by the treatments. Our results indicate that the nutrient rich environment of the leaf litter material gave fungal communities the possibility to express genes that induce tolerance against the applied pesticides. Thus our data may not be transferred to other fresh water habitats with lower nutrient availability.     

青岛沿海养殖区贝类体内有机氯农药残留量分布和评价

2005年5月和9月分别在青岛周边的胶州湾、田横湾、鳌山湾、胶南等贝类养殖区的17个站位采集了杂色蛤,竹蛏,栉孔扇贝等三种贝类,采用气相色谱-电子捕获检测器(GC-ECD),外标法定量,对贝类体内有机氯农药(HCHs、DDTs)残留量进行检测.并对不同情况下残留量的分布状况进行研究,结果表明:(1)贝类体内HCHs的检出率为60%,DDTs为100%.均未超过国家标准.(2)5月份农药残留量偏高,9月份残留量偏低.(3)生活在河流入海口处的贝类体内农残含量略有偏高.(4)栉孔扇贝对有机氯的富集尤为显著,残留量高.杂色蛤,竹蛏农药残留量低.     

Adsorption distribution impact on preferential transport within horizontal flow constructed wetland (HFCW)

Predicting preferential water flow and solute transport in soils is in the interest of scientists and engineers in the fields of agricultural soil, forest hydrology, soil physics and wastewater treatment by constructed wetland. In artificial wetlands, any preferential pathway induces an insufficient residence time of pollutants in the soil, making an incomplete and unfinished biodegradation process, a wrong evaluation of the hydraulic residence time of the system which would hinder its management in a complete system with several entities of treatment and a non-homogeneous growth of the biofilm in the solid filter mass. This paper is a contribution in tracer experiment data analysis within a horizontal flow constructed wetland built in a storm water basin. A two-dimensional numerical model was used to simulate flow and reactive solute transport. The flow model was successfully calibrated in very dry soil conditions. The adsorption profiles used in the reactive transport modeling are those of five molecules: metolachlor, atrazine, deethylatrazine (DEA), deisopropylatrazine (DIA), and hydroxyatrazine (HA). We show that the adsorption distribution is an internal factor of soil which is responsible to the “preferential” pathway transport in a homogeneous gravel texture. The mean residence time of pollutants within the filter is strongly correlated with the average value of the adsorption coefficient. Moreover, we note a lack of significant impact of the heterogeneity of the medium on the statistical moments of breakthrough curve. It appears that a uni-modal breakthrough curve is not significant to the absence of preferential flow in the medium and at least a two-dimensional display can provide sufficient evidence on the presence or absence of preferential pathways. Finally, using a PLS regression, it is possible to perfectly discriminate the number of peaks of concentration and the asymmetry of the breakthrough curve.     

SBR技术在有机农药废水处理中的应用

采用中和微碱解－厌氧水解－SBR好氧生化工艺处理氧化乐果，久效磷有机农药废水，与国内同类其它处理技术相比较，其COD、BOD5、P等主要污染物去除率以及处理成本，工程投资，占地面积等项技术经济指标优势明显，可在同行业中推广应用。     

基于荧光素酶发光体系测试饮用水中农药的综合毒性

利用农药对荧光素酶催化的发光反应具有非常显著的抑制作用,对甲拌磷、乐果、毒死蜱、百草枯等4种农药分别进行单一毒性和等比混合法联合毒性测试,建立了一种快速检测饮用水中农药综合毒性的生物学方法。试验结果表明,单一农药乐果、甲拌磷、百草枯和毒死蜱的EC50值分别为7.56 mg/L、12.7 mg/L、19.0 mg/L和65.3 mg/L,毒性强弱顺序为乐果甲拌磷百草枯毒死蜱,相关系数≥0.995;将4种农药以等比方式配制成两两混合液后,当质量浓度为20.0 mg/L~100 mg/L时,除百草枯与毒死蜱表现为毒性协同外,其他两两混合农药的毒性以拮抗作用为主。     

Pesticide Environmental Accounting: a method for assessing the external costs of individual pesticide applications

The Pesticide Environmental Accounting (PEA) tool provides a monetary estimate of environmental and health impacts per hectare-application for any pesticide. The model combines the Environmental Impact Quotient method and a methodology for absolute estimates of external pesticide costs in UK, USA and Germany. For many countries resources are not available for intensive assessments of external pesticide costs. The model converts external costs of a pesticide in the UK, USA and Germany to Mediterranean countries. Economic and policy applications include estimating impacts of pesticide reduction policies or benefits from technologies replacing pesticides, such as sterile insect technique. The system integrates disparate data and approaches into a single logical method. The assumptions in the system provide transparency and consistency but at the cost of some specificity and precision, a reasonable trade-off for a method that provides both comparative estimates of pesticide impacts and area-based assessments of absolute impacts.