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XTOXNET PIP -PARAQUAT Page 3 of 4 <br /> . Breakdown in soil and groundwater: Paraquat is highly persistent in the soil environment, with reported field <br /> half-lives of greater than 1000 days [11,58]. The reported half-life for paraquat in one study ranged from 16 <br /> months(aerobic laboratory conditions)to 13 years (field study) [113]. Ultraviolet light, sunlight, and soil <br /> microorganisms can degrade paraquat to products which are less toxic than the parent compound. The strong <br /> affinity for adsorption by soil particles and organic matter may limit the bioavailability of paraquat to plants, <br /> earthworms, and microorganisms [11,58]. The bound residues may persist indefinitely and can be transported in <br /> runoff with the sediment. Paraquat is not significantly mobile in most soils [8]. That which does not become <br /> associated with soil particles can be decomposed to a nontoxic end product by soil bacteria [32]. Thus,paraquat <br /> does not present a high risk of groundwater contamination. Of 721 groundwater samples analyzed, only one <br /> contained paraquat, at a concentration of 20 mg/L [111]. <br /> . Breakdown in water: Paraquat will be bound to suspended or precipitated sediment in the aquatic environment, <br /> and may be even more highly persistent than on land due to limited availability of oxygen. It had a half-life in a <br /> laboratory stream water column of 13.1 hours [114]. In another study, paraquat dichloride was stable for up to 30 <br /> days [111]. In a third study of low levels in water, paraquat had a half-life of 23 weeks [111]. <br /> . Breakdown in vegetation: Paraquat dichloride droplets decompose when exposed to light after being applied to <br /> maize,tomato, and broad-bean plants. Small amounts of residues were found in potatoes treated with paraquat as <br /> a desiccant, and boiling the potatoes did not reduce the residue [8]. <br /> Physical Properties: <br /> . Appearance: Paraquat salts are colorless,white, or pale yellow crystalline solids, which are hygroscopic and <br /> odorless [1]. <br /> . Chemical Name: 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium [1] <br /> . CAS Number: 1910-42-5 <br /> . Molecular Weight: 257.20 <br /> . Water Solubility: 700,000 mg/L @ 20 C [1] <br /> . Solubility in Other Solvents: Dichloride salt is sparingly soluble in lower alcohols [1] <br /> . Melting Point: Decomposes @ 300 C [1] <br /> . Vapor Pressure: Negligible @ room temperature (paraquat dichloride) [1] <br /> . Partition Coefficient: 4.4683 [58] <br /> . AdsorptionCoefficient: 1,000,000 (estimated) [1l] <br /> Exposure Guidelines: <br /> . ADI: 0.004 mg/kg/day [12] <br /> . MCL:Not Available <br /> . R ]D: 0.0045 mg/kg/day [13] <br /> . PEL:Not Available <br /> . $A: 0.03 mg/L (lifetime) [111] <br /> . TLV: 0.1 mg/m3 (8-hour) (respirable fraction) [17] <br /> Basic Manufacturer: <br /> Zeneca Ag Products <br /> 1800 Concord Pike <br /> Wilmington, DE 19897 <br /> . Phone: 800-759-4500 <br /> . Emergency: 800-759-2500 <br /> References• <br />