Behaviour of 12 insecticides in soil and aqueous suspensions of soil and sediment

Abstract The behaviour of 12 insecticides in soil and aqueous suspensions of soil and sediment was studied in the laboratory. Insecticides used were representative of the organochlorine, organophosphorus, and carbamate groups. Tests were conducted using three soils and a stream sediment. The order of adsorption on soil was DDT > leptophos > dieldrin > endrin > ethion > chlorpyrifos > lindane > parathion > diazinon > carbaryl > carbofuran > mevinphos. Organic soil had the greatest adsorptive capacity > stream sediment > Beverly sandy loam >Z Plainfield sand. Desorption and mobility of the insecticides increased with increasing solubility of the insecticides in water, even though the insecticides tested were very different in chemical structure. The results indicated that adsorption, desorption, and mobility of insecticides in soil and water will be dependent to a large extent on the nature of the adsorbents and water solubility of the insecticides.