The Atmosphere as a Sink for Applied Pesticides

Pesticides are removed from the atmosphere by surface deposition, washout, or chemical reaction. The atmosphere is a sink only when the rate of chemical degradation limits the esidence time of the pesticide. Little is known about atmospheric degradation rates, and in many cases, even the reaction pathway may be uncertain. Photochemical conversion is considered a primary reaction mechanism, but reaction with atmospheric oxidants may also be important.