Environmental fate and toxicology of chlorothalonil

Abstract

Chlorothalonil is a broad spectrum, non systemic, organochlorine pesticide that was first registered in 1966 for turf grasses, and later for several food crops. Chlorthalonil has both a low Henry's law constant and vapor pressure, and hence, volatilization losses are limited. Although, chlorothalonil's water solubility is low, studies have shown it to be highly toxic to aquatic species. Mammalian toxicity (to rats and mice) is moderate, and produces adverse effects such as, tumors, eye irritation and weakness. Although, there is no indication that chlorothalonil is a human carcinogen,there is sufficient evidence from animal studies to classify it as a probable carcinogen.Chlorothalonil has a relatively low water solubility and is stable to hydrolysis.However, hydrolysis under basic conditions may occur and is considered to be a minor dissipation pathway. As a result of its high soil adsorption coefficient this fungicide strongly sorbs to soil and sediment. Therefore, groundwater contamination is minimal. Degradation via direct aqueous or foliar photolysis represents a major dissipation pathway for this molecule, and the photolysis rate is enhanced by natural photosensitizers such as dissolved organic matter or nitrate. In addition to photolysis, transformation by aerobic and anaerobic microbes is also a major degradation pathway. Under anaerobic conditions, hydrolytic dechlorination produces the stable metabolite 4-hydroxy-2,5,6-trichloroisophthalonitrile. Chlorothalonil is more efficiently degraded under neutral pH conditions and in soil containing a low carbon content.