Impact of Pesticides on Atmospheric Formaldehyde Concentration and Ambient Air Quality

Ahmed A. El-Abssawy, Mamdouh I. Khoder, and Hoda F. S. Rizk

Department of Air Pollution Research, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

Corresponding author: Ahmed A. El-Abssawy
    Department of Air Pollution Research,
    National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
    E-mail: a_elabssawy@yahoo.com

CEJOEM 2006, Vol.12. No.4.: 297–307


Key words:
Pesticide, formaldehyde, temperature, relative humidity, air quality


Abstract:
Hourly formaldehyde concentrations along with temperature and relative humidity were monitored before and after three spraying processes of chemical pesticides performed on sunny days of spring and summer in 1999. The results revealed that the pesticide spraying process (PSP) raised the atmospheric level of formaldehyde (HCHO) in the ambient air of the treated farm for five consecutive days reaching its maximum on the 2nd day. The peak (101 ppb) and highest percent enrichment (304%) in HCHO concentrations were found on the 2nd day of the 2nd summer PSP. The HCHO concentrations were higher after 1st and 2nd summer PSPs (about 1.3 and 1.6 times, respectively) than those of the spring PSP. The most hazardous levels were found around solar noon and 80% of them were found at 12 o’clock (local time). The formaldehyde concentrations positively (although insignificantly) correlated with the temperature and negatively with the relative humidity in both seasons investigated. In conclusion, chemical pesticides can be considered as a risky source of secondary formaldehyde formation.


Received: 19 May 2005
Accepted: 15 December 2006

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