Degradation of Pesticides - Pesticides: Evaluation of Environmental Pollution - page 47

3
Degradati on of Pesticides
O.P. Bansal
CONTENTS
3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 47
3.2 Chemical Degradation ........................................................................................................ 50
3.2.1 Factors Influencing Chemical Degradation ......................................................... 50
3.2.2 Organochlorine Pesticides...................................................................................... 51
3.2.3 Organophosphorus Pesticides ............................................................................... 52
3.2.4 Carbamate Pesticides............................................................................................... 53
3.2.5 Pyrethroid Pesticides............................................................................................... 54
3.2.6 Miscellaneous........................................................................................................... 54
3.3 Photodegradation................................................................................................................. 55
3.3.1 Photolysis of Organochlorine Pesticides .............................................................. 57
3.3.2 Photodegradation of Organophosphate Pesticides............................................. 60
3.3.3 Carbamate Pesticides............................................................................................... 64
3.3.4 Pyrethroid Pesticides............................................................................................... 66
3.3.5 Miscellaneous........................................................................................................... 68
3.4 Microbial Degradation ........................................................................................................ 69
3.4.1 Factors Influencing Microbial Degradation ......................................................... 70
3.4.2 Organophosphorus Pesticides ............................................................................... 71
3.4.3 Organochlorine Pesticides...................................................................................... 72
3.4.4 Carbamate Pesticides............................................................................................... 73
3.4.5 Pyrethroid Pesticides............................................................................................... 74
3.4.6 Miscellaneous........................................................................................................... 74
3.5 Pesticide Degradation and Environmental Pollution ..................................................... 74
3.5.1 Adverse Effects......................................................................................................... 75
3.6 Conclusions........................................................................................................................... 75
References....................................................................................................................................... 77
3.1 Introduction
The ever-growing human population, which is expected to be 9.1 billion by 2050 (UN
2005), will require more agricultural production, especially in tropical regions. Increasing
agricultural production in these regions relies on the use of agrochemicals, as shown by
the growth of agrochemical market by approximately 4.5% annually. On the one hand,
use of agrochemicals helps in meeting with the dietary needs of the ever-increasing world
population, but on the other hand, many agrochemicals used in agricultural activities con-
taminate soil, air, and water resources. Therefore, it becomes imperative to identify and
47