Parameters affecting the decay of some organophosphorus pesticides: a study by high-performance liquid chromatography.

An HPLC procedure has been developed to follow the decay of malathion and methylparathion under control conditions using an mu-Bondapak C18 column with a mixture of acetonitrile and water to mobile phase and an ultraviolet detector for detection. Studies have been conducted to monitor their degradation in water and soil at different temperatures, pH and organic content. The results show that the persistence of the pesticides decreases with increase in temperature, pH and organic content.