| Title: | Mitigating iodomethane emissions and iodide residues in fumigated soils |
| Author(s): | Xuan R; Ashworth DJ; Wu L; Yates SR; |
| Address: | "USDA-ARS, Salinity Laboratory, 450 West Big Springs Road, Riverside, California 92507, United States" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1520-5851 (Electronic) 0013-936X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Although long-regarded as an excellent soil fumigant for killing plant pests, methyl bromide (MeBr) was phased out in 2005 in the USA, because it can deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Iodomethane (MeI) has been identified as an effective alternative to MeBr and is used in a number of countries for preplant pest control. However, MeI is highly volatile and potentially carcinogenic to humans if inhaled. In addition, iodide anions, a breakdown product of MeI, can build up in fumigated soils and potentially cause plant toxicity and contaminate groundwater via leaching. In order to overcome the above two obstacles in MeI application, a method is proposed to place reactive bags containing ammonium hydroxide solution (NH4OH) on the soil surface underneath an impermeable plastic film covering the fumigated area. Our research showed that using this approach, over 99% of the applied MeI was quantitatively transferred to iodide. Of all the resulting iodide, only 2.7% remained in the fumigated soil, and 97.3% was contained in the reactive bag that can be easily removed after fumigation" |
| Keywords: | "Ammonium Hydroxide/chemistry Environmental Pollution/*prevention & control *Fumigation Half-Life Hydrocarbons, Iodinated/*analysis Iodides/*analysis Kinetics Models, Theoretical Permeability Polyethylene/chemistry Soil/*chemistry Soil Pollutants/*analysis;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineXuan, Richeng Ashworth, Daniel J Wu, Laosheng Yates, Scott R eng 2013/10/25 Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Nov 19; 47(22):13047-52. doi: 10.1021/es403954z. Epub 2013 Nov 6" |
