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The sorption of nine pesticides to the aquatic macrophytes Chara globularis, Elodea nuttallii, and Lemna gibba was studied. A batch equilibrium method was used to study the sorption at five concentration levels to fresh shoots of the macrophytes. The results for the herbicides atrazine and linuron were described by nonlinear Freundlich equations, with Freundlich exponents ranging from 0.53 to 0.60. The results for the other compounds showed almost linear sorption isotherms, with Freundlich exponents ranging from 0.9 to 1.1. The highest sorption was measured for chlorpyrifos, with sorption coefficients ranging from 1,660 to 2,150 L/kg. Sorption coefficients for C. globularis tended to be lower than those for the other two macrophytes. Correlation (R(2) = 0.80) was found for the relation between the sorption coefficient (K(d)) of six pesticides and their solubility in water (S). The equation log K(d) = 3.20 - 0.65 log S can be used for a first estimate of the sorption coefficient of a pesticide to aquatic macrophytes.http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00244/bibs/37n3p310.html

Greenhouse soils are regularly treated with metham-sodium, which in soil is quickly transformed to the fumigant methyl isothiocyanate. An experimental fumigation was carried out in a greenhouse with sandy soil. Data were collected on the behavior of methyl isothiocyanate in soil and its permeation through a film of low-density polyethene (LDPE) covering the soil. This cover was found to be highly permeable to methyl isothiocyanate. When the fumigation of greenhouse soil was simulated with a computation model, the use of LDPE film only appreciably reduced the rate of emission into the air in the first two days. The cumulative emission corresponded to about half of the dosage for some practical situations. It is concluded that dosages should be lower and applied more effectively, and less permeable soil covers should be used.