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Studies on Mobility and Degradation Pathways of Terbuthylazine Using Lysimeters on a Field Scale
Author(s) -
Guzzella L.,
Rullo S.,
Pozzoni F.,
Giuliano G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2003.1089
Subject(s) - terbuthylazine , lysimeter , environmental chemistry , chemistry , leaching (pedology) , topsoil , leachate , pollutant , soil water , soil contamination , environmental science , soil science , pesticide , agronomy , organic chemistry , atrazine , biology
ABSTRACT Terbuthylazine [ N 2 ‐ tert ‐butyl‐6‐chloro‐ N 4 ‐ethyl‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4‐diamine] degradation pathways in agricultural soils were evaluated by following the appearance and mobility of its main transformation products: dealkylated and hydroxylated derivatives. Three experimental degradation studies in open field were performed in different hydraulic conditions: constant hydraulic head on topsoil, achieved to simulate the highest‐risk situation for the aquifer; intermittent artificial precipitation to simulate a medium‐risk situation; and natural precipitation to reproduce the lowest‐risk condition. Concentrations of terbuthylazine transformation products derived from dealkylation and hydroxylation reactions were measured in leachates and soil samples collected during the three experiments. Desethylterbuthylazine (DET) and deethylterbuthylazine‐2‐hydroxide [DETH; 4‐amino‐6‐terbutylamino‐(1,3,5)‐triazine‐2‐ OH ] were found to be the highest‐leaching compounds and therefore can be considered as potential pollutants for aquifer contamination.