Treating soil solution samplers to prevent microbial removal of analytes.
Soil microorganisms colonizing soil water sampling devices (lysimeters) reduced concentrations of biodegradable organic chemicals, including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid methyl ester, alachlor, methyl m-chlorobenzoate, and metolachlor as water entered through porous ceramic cups. In some cases, losses exceeded 99%. Additions of either a biocide (sodium hypochlorite) or a bacteriostat (copper salt) prevented microbial activity so that concentrations of test chemicals inside lysimeters equaled those outside. Field studies further indicated that treating lysimeters with a copper salt effectively prevented microbial activity. Thus, chemically treating soil water samplers could improve the accuracy of soil water data for a wide variety of analytes, including environmentally important organics, such as pesticides and industrial wastes, and inorganics, such as ammonia and nitrate.
Lewis
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Environmental Research Laboratory and Technology Applications, Inc., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia 30613; Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 ; Scientific Evaluation Section, Bureau of Pesticides, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, State of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida 32311 ; and Pesticide & Review Section, Department of Environmental Regulation, State of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
Simons
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Moore
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Gattie
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