This study aimed to evaluate endosulfan leaching and persistence in the field as well as its degradation and formation of the metabolite endosulfan sulfate under laboratory conditions. For the persistence experiment and leaching in the field, soil samples until 100 cm depth were collected at 0, 41, 74, and 125 days after application. In the laboratory, soil samples of 0-30 cm and 50-70 cm depth were incubated at 30 ± 2 ºC and 80% field capacity and endosulfan residues were quantified as a function of time for adjusting the first order kinetics and biphasic models. In the field, it was observed that endosulfan did not leach beyond 10 cm depth and there was a rapid dissipation resulting in a quantity in the soil profile (100 cm) less than 1% of the applied dose at 41 days after application. In laboratory TD50 values for endosulfan ranged from 17 to 26 days and endosulfan sulfate 26-59 days. The biphasic decay model was superior to the first-order kinetics to describe the degradation of endosulfan in the laboratory.
degradation; half-life; leaching; dissipation
