As an exercise, examine the pesticide structures presented in Figure 20.26 . For each set of pesticides, predict
which is more easily degraded under aerobic conditions.
You are correct if you predicted 2,4-D for the first set. It is
rapidly degraded by soil microorganisms. Although 2,4,5-T is also degraded, the degradation is much slower. For
the second set of pesticides, propham is more degradable.
In propachlor, the extensive branching so close to the ring
structure blocks biodegradation. In the third set, carbaryl
is more degradable because of the extensive chlorination
and complex ring structures of aldrin. In fact, the estimated
half-lifeof carbaryl in soil is 30 days, compared with 1.6
years for aldrin. Half-life is a term used to express the time
it takes for 50% of the compound to disappear. Generally,
5 half-lives are believed sufficient for the compound to be
completely degraded. Finally, in the fourth set, methoxychlor is more degradable than DDT. In this case, the
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