Species and Persistence of Pollutants in the Pond Water from an Orchard Area Treated with Organophosphorus Pesticides

Summary

Dimethyl- and diethyl-thiophosphates and -dithiophosphates were pursued before and after seasonal application of organophosphorus pesticides in the water from three ponds located in an apple orchard. The treatment of fruit-trees with pesticides led to local soil pollution causing the formation of degradation products which are proposed to be rinsed to the pond water. After three treatments during the summer months the level of analysed species in the pond water increased 4 –166 times. The compounds were quite resistant to further degradation and could be detected in trace amounts as long as one year after pesticides application.