Adsorption and degradation of neonicotinoid insecticides in agricultural soils

The adsorption and degradation of seven commercially available neonicotinoid insecticides in four types of agricultural soils from three states (Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee) in the USA were studied. The adsorptions of all the neonicotinoids fit a linear isotherm. The adsorption distribution coefficients (Kd) were found to be below 2.0 L/kg for all the neonicotinoids in all the soils from Mississippi and Arkansas. Only in the Tennessee soil samples, the Kd ranged from 0.96 to 4.21 L/kg. These low values indicate a low affinity and high mobility of these insecticides in the soils. The soil organic carbon–water partitioning coefficient Koc ranged from 349 to 2569 L/kg. These Kd values showed strong positive correlations with organic carbon content of the soils. The calculated Gibbs energy change (ΔG) of these insecticides in all the soils ranged from − 14.6 to − 19.5 kJ/mol, indicating that physical process was dominant in the adsorptions. The degradations of all these neonicotinoids in the soils followed a first-order kinetics with half-lives ranging from 33 to 305 days. The order of the insecticides with decreasing degradation rate is as follows: clothianidin > thiamethoxam > imidacloprid > acetamiprid > dinotefuran > thiacloprid > nitenpyram. The moisture content, clay content, and cation exchange capacity showed positive effects on the degradation rate of all the neonicotinoids. The Groundwater Ubiquity Score (GUS) calculated from the adsorption distribution coefficient, organic content, and half-life indicates that, except for thiacloprid, all the neonicotinoids in all the soils are possible leachers, having potentials to permeate into and through groundwater zones.