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The ability of indigenous micro‐organisms to degrade isoproturon, atrazine and mecoprop within aerobic UK aquifer systems
Author(s) -
Johnson Andrew C,
White Craig,
Lal Bhardwaj C,
Dixon Andy
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.762
Subject(s) - mecoprop , atrazine , aquifer , indigenous , environmental science , biology , environmental chemistry , ecology , pesticide , groundwater , chemistry , geology , geotechnical engineering , mcpa
The potential for the herbicides isoproturon, atrazine and mecoprop to degrade in the major UK aquifers of chalk, sandstone and limestone was studied using laboratory microcosms spiked at 100 µg litre −1 . Significant mecoprop degradation was only observed in sandstone groundwater samples. Atrazine transformation, based on the formation of metabolites, did occur in most groundwater samples, but only at a rate of 1–3% per year. A potential to degrade isoproturon was observed in groundwater samples from each of the aquifer types, with the most rapid and consistent degradation occurring at the sandstone field site. Biodegradation was confirmed by the formation of monodesmethyl‐ and didesmethyl‐isoproturon. Isoproturon degradation potential rates obtained from the groundwater microcosms could not be correlated with either dissolved organic carbon or numbers of bacteria in the groundwater. It was noted that the ability of the groundwater at a field site to degrade a pesticide was not related to performance of the soil above. Crown copyright 2003. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.