Herbicide transport in rivers: Importance of hydrology and geochemistry in nonpoint-source contamination
Environmental Science & Technology
By: P. J. Squillace and E.M. Thurman
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Abstract
Alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor, and metribuzin were measured at six sites during 1984 and 1985 in large subbasins within the Cedar River, IA. A computer model separated the Cedar River discharge hydrograph into groundwater and overland-flow components. The concentration of herbicides in the river when groundwater was the major flow component was less than 1.0 μg/L and averaged 0.2 μg/L. The maximum concentrations of herbicides occurred when overland flow was the major component of river discharge, exceeding 50 pg/L for total herbicides. About 6% of the annual river load of atrazine was transported with the groundwater component, while 94% was transported with overland flow. From 1.5 to 5% of the atrazine applied during the year was transported from the basin. Atrazine concentrations in the river in- creased according to the discharge divided by the drainage area. This correlation indicates that rivers with large normalized 2-year peak flows have the potential to transport large concentrations of herbicides. A diagrammatic model of nonpoint-source transport of herbicides was developed that suggests that sorbed transport from fields occurs during episodes of overland flow with rapid dissolution of herbicides downstream.
Suggested Citation
Squillace, P.J., Thurman, E., 1992, Herbicide transport in rivers: Importance of hydrology and geochemistry in nonpoint-source contamination: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 26, no. 3, p. 538-545, https://doi.org/10.1021/es00027a015.
ISSN: 1520-5851 (online)
ISSN: 0013-936X (print)
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Herbicide transport in rivers: Importance of hydrology and geochemistry in nonpoint-source contamination |
| Series title | Environmental Science & Technology |
| DOI | 10.1021/es00027a015 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication Date | May 01, 2002 |
| Year Published | 1992 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Chemical Society |
| Contributing office(s) | Iowa Water Science Center, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
| Description | 8 p. |
| First page | 538 |
| Last page | 545 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |