Parameters for predicting fate of organochlorine pesticides in the environment (III) Biodegradation rate constants

Aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation rate constants of 10 principal organochlorine pesticides were investigated to predict their fate in the environment. The biodegradation rate can be expressed by the first order rate equation. The half-lives were in the range 0.4 - 50 [d] for aerobic biodegradation and in the range 0.06 - 100 [d] for anaerobic biodegradation. The hydrophobicity of the pesticide and the presence of functional groups easily transferred by microorganisms affect the biodegradation rate.