Metolachlor is frequently detected in surface water and groundwater throughout the United States. The US Geological Survey conducted a study to assess the controlling factors in the transport and fate of metolachlor across seven watersheds during 1997-2007. The occurrence of metolachlor, metolachlor ethane-sulfonic acid, and metolachlor oxanilic acid was examined, and its degradates primarily are affected by a number of factors including use, management, environmental setting, and physical and chemical properties of the compounds. The fate of metolachlor can be generalized: 90% of metolachlor is taken up by plants, degraded in the soil, or adsorbed to soil. About 10% of applied metolachlor is volatilized into the atmosphere, and about 0.3% returns by rainfall, 0.4% metolachlor reaches surface water, while an equal amount is infiltrated into the unsaturated zone and might move downward. Generally, groundwater stores less than 0.02% and does not serve as a metolachlor source to receiving waters.

Holistic assessment of the occurrence of metolachlor and two of its degradates across various environmental compartments in seven environmental settings

244th National Meeting (2012)

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