Abstract
Factors affecting the stability of parathion in the aquatic environment were studied, with emphasis on pH. In 24-hr toxicity tests, using the midgeChironomus riparius, parathion was significantly more toxic at pH 6 than at pHs 4 and 8. While the data from toxicity tests suggested that pH may be important in determining the environmental fate of parathion, pH was found to be insignificant in controlling levels of parathion in water and organisms of aquatic microcosms adjusted to pHs 4, 6, and 8. After 7 days, parathion accounted for 29.7, 28.7, and 36.6% of total radioactivity in the water of microcosms held at pHs 4, 6, and 8, respectively. In abiotic water, however, no parathion breakdown was observed in 40 days at any of the three pH levels. These data demonstrate the importance of biotic factors, particularly microorganisms, in degrading parathion. Microorganisms which metabolize parathion in the microcosms were not adversely affected by changes in pH.
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