ABSTRACT
Fensulfothion is a commercially produced insecticide and nematocide. In soils of very high organic content, such as onion fields in which fensulfothion has pesticidal use, fensulfothion has been shown to be retained in the upper soil layers. Volatilization from soil is not expected to be significant. Occupational exposure by inhalation and dermal routes related to the use of fensulfothion as a pesticide may be significant. Fensulfothion degraded rapidly in a sandy loam soil to the moderately persistent metabolite fensulfothion sulfone. The Henry’s Law constant indicates that fensulfothion should be nonvolatile from water and moist soil. Fensulfothion has been detected in run-off water from agricultural fields treated with the insecticide. Carrots grown in muck soil contained fensulfothion sulfone in all sections of the carrot. Occupational exposure by inhalation and dermal routes related to the use of fensulfothion as an insecticide may be significant.
