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Degradation of the Pesticides Mecoprop and Atrazine in Unpolluted Sandy Aquifers

Dep. of Environmental Engineering, Bldg. 115, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

The potential for biodegradation of the pesticides mecoprop [(+/–)-2-(4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy)propionic acid] and atrazine [2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine] in an aerobic aquifer was investigated in laboratory batch experiments. The experiments were performed with groundwater and suspensions of groundwater and aquifer sediment collected from a pristine sandy aquifer. Following a lag period of 35 to 40 d, mecoprop in a concentration of 100 µg/L was degraded in 30 d in groundwater at 10°C. New additions of 100 to 140 µg mecoprop/L were degraded within a week. In suspensions of groundwater and aquifer sediment, mecoprop in the concentration range 75 to 300 µg/L was degraded in 15 d, following a lag period of less than 7 d. Experiments performed with sediments taken from different depths indicate that there was a considerable variation in the degradation potential within the aquifer. Atrazine was not degraded during an incubation period of 539 d in groundwater and 174 d in suspensions of groundwater and aquifer sediment. The addition of nutrients, primary substrates (acetate and naphthalene), and a pH or temperature increase had not effect on the recalcitrance of atrazine.

Current addresses: M. Klint, Envision, Hoved Vagtsgade 8, 1103 Copenhagen K, Denmark; B.K. Jensen, Water Quality Inst., Agern Allé 11, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark.

This research was funded by the Commission of the European Communities.

Received for publication August 19, 1991.

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