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Contamination of the Sandstone Aquifer of Prince Edward Island, Canada by Aldicarb and Nitrogen Residues
Author(s) -
Priddle M. W.,
Jackson R.E.,
Mutch J.P.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
groundwater monitoring and remediation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-6592
pISSN - 1069-3629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6592.1989.tb01022.x
Subject(s) - aldicarb , groundwater recharge , aquifer , groundwater , contamination , nitrate , environmental science , sowing , environmental chemistry , nitrogen , hydrology (agriculture) , agronomy , chemistry , geology , ecology , pesticide , biology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Prince Edward Island is wholly dependent upon ground water from a highly permeable fractured sandstone aquifer for all industrial, domestic, agricultural, and potable uses. The contamination of this aquifer by agricultural residues, principally aldicarb and nitrate, has caused concern among Islanders. Ground water quality was monitored between 1985 and 1988 beneath two potato fields to which aldicarb (Temik) was applied at planting once or twice between 1983 and 1986. In May of 1988,12 percent of 48 monitoring well samples exceeded the drinking water guideline of 9μg/L for total aldicarb. Furthermore 32 percent of all samples exceeded the nitrate guideline of 10 mg/L. Aldicarb persistence appears related to its application at planting when soil temperatures are low and recharge is high and to the inhibiting pH effect that ammonium (from fertilizers and soil organic nitrogen) oxidation has on its degradation. Therefore, based on the research of others, it is recommended that aldicarb be applied at plant emergence when degradation is more rapid and recharge is lower.