Pesticides and ground-water quality in four states : issues and problems

Abstract

Ground water has been contaminated by the normal field use of pesticides throughout the United States. Under contract to the Board on Agriculture, National Research Council, incidents of pesticide residues detected in ground water were evaluated during 1984-1985 in four states--California, New York, Wisconsin, and Florida--and agricultural management strategies to mitigate the potential for additional contamination incidents were considered. Evaluation of the incidents in those states are summarized in three general categories: (1) responses of the relevant state and federal agencies, (2) determination of critical needs and problems, and (3) the implications for agricultural production. Evidence indicates that in some sensitive hydrogeologic environments (shallow unconfined aquifers, highly permeable soils, low organic matter) the use of pesticides with certain Chemical Characteristics (nonionic, high water solubility, low koc, hydrolysis half-life greater than 25 weeks) will result in a high probability of residues reaching ground water. Urgent technical and institutional problems are highlighted and put in a national framework.