When synthetic chemicals degrade in the environment

Abstract

With the exception of pesticides, little is known about the degradation products of synthetic chemicals. What we do know is that degradates are present in the environment and can be as toxic as or even more toxic than the parent compound. Taking lessons from the pesticide data, Alistair B. A. Boxall and Chris J. Sinclair from U.K.'s Cranfield University, Kathrin Fenner at the Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG), Dana Kolpin from the U.S. Geological Survey, and Steve J. Maund of Syngenta Crop Protection AG in Switzerland discuss degradates' environmental behavior and effect on organisms, how to identify substances of potential concern, and what types of research are needed.