Acrylamide Monomer Leaching from Polyacrylamide‐Treated Irrigation Furrows

Abstract

Water-soluble anionic polyacrylamide (WSPAM), which is used to reduce erosion in furrow irrigated fi elds and other agriculture applications, contains less than 0.05% acrylamide monomer (AMD). Acrylamide monomer, a potent neurotoxicant and suspected carcinogen, is readily dissolved and transported in fl owing water. Th e study quantifi ed AMD leaching losses from a WSPAM-treated corn (Zea mays L.) fi eld using continuous extraction-walled percolation samplers buried at 1.2 m depth. Th e samplers were placed 30 and 150 m from the infl ow source along a 180-m-long corn fi eld. Th e fi eld was furrow irrigated using WSPAM at the rate of 10 mg L −1 during furrow advance. Percolation water and furrow infl ows were monitored for AMD during and after three furrow irrigations. Th e samples were analyzed for AMD using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron-capture detector. Furrow infl ows contained an average AMD concentration of 5.5 μg L −1 . Th e AMD in percolation water samples never exceeded the minimum detection limit and the de facto potable water standard of 0.5 μg L −1 . Th e risk that ground water beneath these WSPAM-treated furrow irrigated soils will be contaminated with AMD appears minimal.

Biodegradation of Materials in Soils and Soil Constructions: Experiments, Modeling and Prevention

“…We exclude from consideration numerous advertising information about the stability of SSHP in soils for 5-6 years or more, because in our opinion they are not correspond to reality. Lentz et al [40] reports a rather slow biodegradation of PAA not more than 10% yr - obtained in this work and previous publication [5].…”

“…Reverse positive relationship of biodegradation with temperature increases peat decomposition under local greenhouse effect conditions [37,38]. For cities such a factor may be the so-called "urban heat island" [26,40]. In this case, the period of biological activity is prolonged for the cold season and biodegradation of peat during winter thaws can reach 20-25% of average annual losses (see "Results").…”

Salinity Management Using an Anionic Polymer in a Pecan Field with Calcareous-Sodic Soil

“…Polyacrylamide has been used safely to reduce erosion in furrow crops for many years and it is estimated that in the United States approximately 1 million ha is PAM treated (Sojka et al, 2007). Application of PAM at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 mg L −1 is recommended by USDA−NRCS for reducing soil erosion in furrow‐irrigated crops (Lentz et al, 2008). However, in recent years, concerns about toxicity of PAM have been expressed because PAM contains small amounts of acrylamide monomer (AMD) as an impurity.…”

“…However, the exposure levels required to cause neurotoxic or carcinogenic effects in humans are several orders of magnitude above that conceivable from exposures resulting from current application levels. Anionic PAM containing <0.05% AMD has a low toxicity and is considered safe (Sojka et al, 2007; Lentz et al, 2008 Weston et al, 2009). Furthermore, studies have shown that PAM degrades in soil at rates >10% yr −1 and does not revert back to AMD on degradation (Sojka et al, 2007).…”

Mineral Fertilizer and Manure Effects on Leached Inorganic Nitrogen, Nitrate Isotopic Composition, Phosphorus, and Dissolved Organic Carbon under Furrow Irrigation

“…The surface soil is a silt loam, with 10 to 13 g kg −1 organic C, 5% calcium carbonate equivalent, and a pH of 7.7 (saturated paste). We aligned the experimental plots with previously installed soil water percolation samplers (Lentz et al, 2008). Plots were planted to silage corn in the first (2003) and second growing seasons and to barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) in the third and fourth growing seasons.…”