The Fate of Chemicals in Soil

Abstract

The introduction of organic chemicals to the environment can cause a variety of ecological problems. One of the most serious of these is the accumulation of chemical agents in an ecosystem. Routes for their introduction are diverse and include direct dumping, accidental spillage, run-off, leaching from containment sites or vessels, and intentional application (e. g. agriculture). The types of chemicals are equally varied and range from industrial and household solvents to crude and refined oils (Calabrese and Kostecki 1989) and pesticides (Biggar and Seiber 1987; Grover 1989).