The mobility and degradation of acrolein in agricultural canals treated with magnacide® H herbicide

The decay of acrolein and its hydration product 3-hydroxypropanal (3-OH) displayed first order kinetics in agricultural canals when applied at the recommended rate for aquatic weed control. The presence of each compound following application was,transient. The dissipation half-life of acrolein was 10.2 and 7.3 hours (0.068 hr−1 and 0.028 hr−1) in weedy and non-weedy canals, respectively. The half-life of 3-OH, which was calculated in the weedy canal only, was 25.2 hours (0.028 hr−1). In the weedy canal, acrolein had dissipated 91.5% within 33.0 hours and, in the non-weedy canal, it had dissipated 48% within 7.9 hours. The results indicate that acrolein is not persistent in aquatic environments and is unlikely to pose a risk of adverse effects to nontarget receptors when used under the conditions of this study.