Influence of Air Velocity, Application Dose, and Test Area Size on the Volatilisation of Lindane

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Abstract
The volatilisation of lindane from soil and French beans was tested in a wind tunnel under defined conditions. Volatilised lindane was determined directly by passing a partial air stream through an adsorbent. Applications of a lindane formulation onto soil and plant surfaces were performed using a moving nozzle. Soil volatilisation experiments were conducted using different air velocities (0.4, 1.1, 1.7 m/s). At higher air velocities the volatilisation rate increased from 12% to 31% within 24 h (initial dose 100%). For plant experiments with different velocities (0.4,1.0,2.0 m/s) the volatilisation rate increased from 52% to 62% at the highest velocity. Additionally, as higher air velocities were applied, air concentrations of lindane during the first hour decreased from 1.61 μg/m3 at 0.4 m/s to 0.61 μg/m3 at 2.0 m/s. In soil experiments with different application doses of lindane (33 mg/m2, 117 mg/m2) the volatilisation rate was decreased (23%) at the higher application dose in comparison to the lower dose (39%). The volatilisation rate was also influenced by the size of the treated area in the wind tunnel. From a larger soil surface (0.84 m2) a lower amount of lindane (23%) volatilised than from a smaller surface (31% at 0.28 m).