Agron. Sustain. Dev. 25 (2005) 193-199
DOI: 10.1051/agro:2005020

Persistence of chlorpyrifos, diazinon and dimethoate sprayed in the greenhouse environment during hydroponic cultivation of Gerbera

Stefanos P. Hatzilazarou^a, Emmanouel Charizopoulos^b, Euphemia Papadopoulou-Mourkidou^b and Athanasios S. Economou<sup>a

a</sup>  Aristotle University, Laboratory of Floriculture, PO Box 281, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
^b  Aristotle University, Pesticide Science Laboratory, PO Box 1678, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

(Accepted 6 January 2005)

Abstract - The fate and behavior of chlorpyrifos, diazinon and dimethoate in a greenhouse installation during hydroponic cultivation of Gerbera was investigated. Their concentrations in the greenhouse air were related to their physicochemical properties. Thus, diazinon exhibited the highest concentration in the greenhouse air 2 hours after application, while chlorpyrifos and dimethoate were measured at lower concentrations. Afterwards, a rapid decrease was recorded. The concentrations of the above pesticides in the drain water of the open hydroponic system were relatively high immediately after the application but decreased rapidly during the following 3 days. In the closed hydroponic system, all the pesticides were accumulated in the nutrient solution during the first 24 hours after application but their concentration slowly decreased over the following 3 days. The highest concentrations of chlorpyrifos and diazinon were measured on the head of the spray operator. However, the highest concentration of dimethoate was measured on his chest.

Key words: airborne residues / greenhouse / organophosphate / pesticides / residue analysis / worker safety

Corresponding author: Stefanos P. Hatzilazarou hatzilaz@agro.auth.gr

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2005