Organophosphorus compounds carbamate potentiation

The potential use of substitute crop protectants in areas where contamination has been discovered and the general lack of Information with respect to the leaching properties and groundwater persistence of many carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides make It Imperative to Investigate the degradation behavior of a broad range of these compounds. 

Pesticides are also a major source of concern as water and soil pollutants. Because of their stability and persistence, the most hazardous pesticides are the organochlorine compounds such as DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, and chlordane. Persistent pesticides can accumulate in food chains for example, shrimp and fish can concentrate some pesticides as much as 1000- to 10,000-fold. This bioaccumulation has been well documented with the pesticide DDT, which is now banned in many parts of the world. In contrast to the persistent insecticides, the organophosphorus (OP) pesticides, such as malathion, and the carbamates, such as carbaryl, are short-lived and generally persist for only a few weeks to a few months. Thus these compounds do not usually present as serious a problem as the earlier insecticides. Herbicides, because of the large quantity used, are also of concern as potential toxic pollutants. Pesticides are discussed in more detail in Chapter 5. 

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