Distribution of agrochemicals in the lower Mississippi River and its tributaries
Science of Total Environment
By: W. E. Pereira, C.E. Rostad, and T.J. Leiker
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Abstract
The Mississippi River and its tributaries drain extensive agricultural regions of the Mid-Continental United States. Millions of pounds of herbicides are applied annually in these areas to improve crop yields. Many of these compounds are transported into the river from point and nonpoint sources, and eventually are discharged into the Gulf of Mexico. Studies being conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey along the lower Mississippi River and its major tributaries, representing a 2000 km river reach, have confirmed that several triazine and acetanilide herbicides and their degradation products are ubiquitous in this riverine system. These compounds include atrazine and its degradation products desethyl and desisopropylatrazine, cyanazine, simazine, metolachlor, and alachlor and its degradation products 2-chloro-2',6'-diethylacetanilide, 2-hydroxy-2',6-diethylacetanilide and 2,6-diethylaniline. Loads of these compounds were determined at 16 different sampling stations. Stream-load calculations provided information concerning (a) conservative or nonconservative behavior of herbicides; (b) point sources or nonpoint sources; (c) validation of sampling techniques; and (d) transport past each sampling station.
Suggested Citation
Pereira, W.E., Rostad, C., Leiker, T., 1990, Distribution of agrochemicals in the lower Mississippi River and its tributaries: Science of Total Environment, v. 97-98, p. 41-53, https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(90)90229-N.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Distribution of agrochemicals in the lower Mississippi River and its tributaries |
| Series title | Science of Total Environment |
| DOI | 10.1016/0048-9697(90)90229-N |
| Volume | 97-98 |
| Year Published | 1990 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
| Description | 13 p. |
| First page | 41 |
| Last page | 53 |
| Country | United States |
| Other Geospatial | Lower Mississippi River |