Chemodynamics: transport and behavior of chemicals in the environment--a problem in environmental health.

The behavior, fate, and extent of effects produced by chemicals escaped from their place of manufacture are discussed. Escaped chemicals may, through vaporization, become residues in the air, where they are potential sources for widespread contamination. The accumulation of certain compounds in soil, water sediment, and organisms is surveyed. Effects produced by these chemicals result from the interaction of the chemicals' properties with processes governing transport, degradation, sequestration, and uptake by organisms. Such processes as adsorption, evaporation, partitioning, and degradation are influenced by ambient conditions of temperature, air movement, moisture, and the presence of other chemicals. These influence the level and extent of exposure that man might receive. Study of the physiochemical properties of compounds in relation to these various processes has provided a basis for better understanding of the quantitative behavior. It provides data that can be used to devise manufacture, use, and disposal procedures that would minimize environmental contamination. 1 diagram, 2 graphs, 88 references, 7 tables.