April 5, 2008

Volatilization (part 1)

"to make volatile; especially : to cause to pass off in vapor" (1)

A primer for Hawaii State Dept. of Agriculture and Dept. Health officials.

"After field application, pesticides enter the various environmental compartments: the ground and surface waters, soil, plants and the atmosphere. Their occurrence in the atmosphere can occur as a result of drift during application or, subsequently, volatilization from soil, plants or surface water and by wind erosion. Pesticides may still be observed in the atmosphere after the treatment period has apparently ended in a region. Many observations and experimental studies highlight the contribution of volatilization to atmospheric contamination... This process may continue for several days or weeks after treatment, and even go on for several months... As a result, it causes the transfer of significant fractions of applied chemicals from treated surfaces into the atmosphere. Once they enter the atmosphere, chemicals may be transported over large distances (3)."

1. Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of "Volatilization":
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Volatilization
2. "Dissipation Pathways" diagram:
http://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/ecorisk_ders/terrestrial_field_dissipation.htm
3. Mass transfer of pesticides into the atmosphere by volatilization from soils and plants: overview
Carole BEDOS*, Pierre CELLIER, Raoul CALVET, Enrique BARRIUSO, BenoƮt GABRIELLE

http://crphyto.be/fichiers/Mass%20transfer%20of%20pesticides%20into%20the%20atmosphere.pdf

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