Studies on the persistence of a commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos on an agricultural soil from provincia de Buenos Aires, República Argentina

Abstract

Chlorpyrifos (O, O-diethyl-O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) phosphorothioate) is a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide and acaricide, widely used in our country. Nowadays, it is the principal insecticide in the market employed for agricultural purposes. A number of studies tending to study the affinity of different pesticides with soil have been performed, but only a few refer to chlorpyrifos. Because of its intensive use, a wide range of terrestrial ecosystems may be contaminated with chlorpyrifos, and there is a need to evaluate its environmental behavior and effects. The aim of our work is to study the interaction and persistence of a commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos on an agricultural soil from Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. In this case, recovery percentages increased with the increase of initial concentration of the pesticide until a concentration of about 25 ppm is reached, and then a decrease was observed. The half-time life was not affected by an increase in chlorpyrifos concentration.