Herbicide degradation in the subsurface and aquifer environment in Northern and Southern Europe
Country: EU Projects
Start Date:   1/8/1993         Duration: 44 months         Project Type: RTD
Contract Number: EV5V-CT930254
Organisation Type:  University research group / research institute
Topics: 
Contaminated land-->Soil and groundwater processes-->Contaminant hydrology
Contaminated land-->Soil and groundwater processes-->Geochemistry
Contaminated land-->Soil and groundwater processes-->Microbiology
Diffuse pollution-->Contaminants-->Persistent Organic Pollutants
Diffuse pollution-->Diffuse pollution overview
Diffuse pollution-->Monitoring
Groundwater protection-->Groundwater processes-->Groundwater processes overview
Groundwater protection-->Groundwater protection overview
Groundwater protection-->Monitoring-->Monitoring overview
Project objectives: 
To establish the potential for chemical and biological degradation of selected herbicides in the unsaturated and saturated zone of unconfined aquifers and 
to establish the effect of environmental variables on rates of herbicide degradation.
Project Summary: 
The project consisted of a core experiment and several satellite experiments:   
   
Core experiment: dealing with the degradation of atrazine in soil samples from two boreholes in each of the participating countries (UK, Beligium and Greece). 
Samples were obtained using a dry percussion coring technique. Sites were in areas of heavy herbicide use where the water table was within 20m of the soil surface. 
  
   
Satellite experiments (on atrazine and selected other herbicides): total counts of bacteria; collection of groundwater and porewater for herbicide and 
anion analysis; degradation studies at low herbicide concentrations using radio-labelled herbicides; investigation of the role of co-metabolism and adaptation 
and studies on abiotic degradation; detailed characterisatio of the temperature response of herbicide degradation; isolation of pure cultures of pesticide 
degrading bacteria.
Achieved Objectives:
Product Descriptions:
Additional Information: 
Lead Institution: 
University of Reading, Department of Soil Science, Reading, UK 
 
Partner Institutions: 
Institut de Recherches Chimiques - Instituut voor Scheikundig Onderzoek, Tervueren, Belgium 
National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', Athens, Greece 
Benaki Phytopathalogical institute, Kifissia, Greece 
 
This information was taken from a source other than the project site: European Commission (1998) Examples of EC research projects directly or indirectly 
related to soil science. Edited by M. Catizzone. European Commission, Directorate-General 12: Science Research & Development
Project Resources:
Weblink:
Funding Programme(s): 
EC Framework 4 Funding Programme FP4 of European Community activities in the field of research and technological development and demonstration
Link to Organisations:

The University of Reading
Submitted by: EUGRIS Team Dr Antony Chapman  Who does what?  30/12/2005 11:52:00
Updated by: EUGRIS Team Professor Paul Bardos  Who does what?  28/09/2006 17:38:00