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. 1967 Jan;15(1):67–75. doi: 10.1128/am.15.1.67-75.1967

Stability and Effects of Some Pesticides in Soil1

Richard Bartha 1, R P Lanzilotta 1, David Pramer 1
PMCID: PMC546845  PMID: 6031443

Abstract

The influence of 29 pesticides on CO2 production and nitrification by soil microorganisms was determined. A few compounds were stable but without significant effect in soil (chlorinated hydrocarbons), some persisted and depressed respiration and nitrification (carbamates, cyclodienes, phenylureas, thiolcarbamates), and others displayed toxicity but were transformed by soil microorganisms (amides, anilides, organophosphates, phenylcarbamates, triazines). Some compounds of the last type induced an initial increase and subsequent decrease in CO2 production by soil. No simple explanation of this effect is possible, but the results of studies of model systems having established activities suggest that in soil any one or a combination of the following mechanisms is responsible for the observed complex relation of CO2 production to time: (i) a pesticide acts to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation in a manner analogous to 2,4-dinitrophenol; (ii) a pesticide lacking antimicrobial action is oxidized in part and transformed to a stable and toxic product; (iii) a pesticide that is selectively toxic inhibits CO2 production by sensitive microorganisms but is subject to oxidation without detoxification by other members of the microbial population that are resistant to its initial action. Pesticide concentrations greatly in excess of those recommended for agricultural and home use were required to produce an effect, and supplementary organic matter (glucose) tended to reduce pesticide toxicity and increase the microbial degradation of pesticides in soil.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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