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Photochemical oxidation of terbufos
Author(s) -
Lee Cindy M.,
Anderson Barbara,
Elzerman Alan W.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620180702
Subject(s) - chemistry , environmental chemistry , sulfone , photochemistry , actinometer , photodissociation , organic chemistry , physics , plasma , quantum mechanics
We studied the photochemical oxidation of an organophosphorus pesticide, terbufos, in surface waters because its oxidation products are of concern. Terbufos sulfoxide and terbufos sulfone have toxicities for aquatic organisms similar to those of the parent compound. We measured a photolysis rate constant under natural sunlight conditions in distilled water of 0.68±0.17/h near Clemson, South Carolina, USA. Actinometer studies resulted in a mean reaction quantum yield for terbufos of 5.8 × 10 −3 . The measured half‐life of 64 min is considerably faster than any of the other chemical or biochemical oxidation half‐lives in soil or hydrolysis half‐lives reported in the literature. Photolysis should be considered in evaluating the risk of terbufos to surface waters and aquatic organisms.