Pesticide Characteristics

There are several characteristics of pesticides that affect the likelihood of pesticides leaching towards the ground water:

Water solubility:
the tendency for a pesticide to dissolve in water and, hence, be carried to surface and ground water. Water solubility of greater than 30 ppm (parts per million) has been identified as a "flag" for the possibility of a pesticide to leach.
Soil adsorption:
the tendency of a pesticide to adhere to soil particles. The higher the tendency, the less likely the pesticide will leach to the ground water.
Pesticide volatility:
the tendency for a pesticide to disperse into the air. Determined by dividing the pesticide's vapor pressure by its water solubility. The lower this tendency, the less likely the pesticide will dissolve in water and leach to the ground water.
Soil half-life:
the time, usually given in days, required for the pesticide in the soil to degrade to the point that its concentration decreases by one-half. The greater the half-life, the more likely the pesticide will have time to leach to the ground water.

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