Pyrethroid insecticides have both agricultural and residential uses and have recently been detected in urban waterways. Modeling pyrethroid environmental fate in a residential setting can help us to understand better the sources, transport pathways, and mitigation strategies for reducing environmental concentrations of pyrethroids. In this study, we compared concentrations of the pyrethroid bifenthrin predicted by the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) with observed concentrations from a storm-drain outfall in southern California. The approach focused first on deriving pyrethroid wash-off characteristics from pervious and impervious surfaces based on plot-scale experiments. Research on the spatial and temporal patterns of bifenthrin applications in the study neighborhood was used in structuring the SWMM model to allow realistic application variability throughout the neighborhood. The results of the calibrated model simulations were used to determine SWMM's suitability for broader use in predictions of residential pyrethroid fate and transport and the effects of best management practices.

Evaluation of an approach for modeling the transport of residential pyrethroid applications

244th National Meeting (2012)

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