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How long a pesticide lasts or persists in the environment is determined by its resistance to break down. All pesticides react in the environment to form new chemicals; it is the rate at which they react and products formed that are important. There are many ways that pesticides can react, but most often they react with oxygen (oxidation) or water (hydrolysis). In addition, all pesticides are subject to breakdown in the presence of sunlight. In soil and sediments, microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) are primarily responsible for pesticide breakdown. Some pesticides may enter plant roots or foliage and break down through plant metabolism. Pesticides applied directly to animals are also subject to uptake and metabolism. |
