Persistence of carbaryl pesticide in environment using system dynamics model

Abstract

Carbaryl, one of the carbamate insecticides are used extensively for pest control in agriculture. The chemical is highly valued for its rapid action and relatively short environmental persistence. Because of its widespread and intensive use, residues of carbaryl have the potential to contaminate the environment. This study aims to formulate a system dynamics model to simulate a degradation process of carbaryl. Since carbaryl was not readily volatilizing, this study only estimates the concentration and degradation of carbaryl in soil and water. The result revealed that carbaryl degraded rapidly, with a half-life of 7 days in soil and two days in water. The model was validated with a laboratory experiment using solid phase extraction reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography to determine carbaryl concentration. 12.82 % percentage error compared to the experimental value indicated that the developed model's prediction was acceptable. The model can be used to estimate the presence of carbaryl pesticide in soil and water. Findings from this study can be used to assess the fate and the impact of carbaryl pesticide in the environment.