Acetochlor - A comparative study on parameters governing the potential for water pollution

The leaching behaviour of the herbicide acetochlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(ethoxymethyl)acetamide] was determined as compared with two congener compounds, alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide] and metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl) acetamide]. The leaching profiles of the herbicides in columns with different types of soil and their capacity factors in reverse phase HPLC were compared. An approach for preliminary characteristic of the potential for water pollution of acetochlor is presented. The herbicide is classified as a leacher in soil and its potential for contamination of ground water is comparable with those of alachlor and metolachlor.