Objective To establish the potential for chemical and biological degradation of selected herbicides in the unsaturated and saturated zone of unconfined aquifers and to establish the effect of environmental variables on rates of herbicide degradation.The project consists of a common "core" experiment and a number of satellite experiments carried out by one or more partners only.1. The "core" experiment deals with the degradation of atrazine in soil samples from two boreholes in each of the participating countries. Samples are being obtained by a dry percussion coring technique. Sampling sites are in regions of heavy herbicide use, with the water table within 20m of the soil surface. Both biotic and abiotic degradation are being evaluated in different laboratories to assure comparability.2. The following satellite experiments on atrazine and on some additonal pesticides will be carried out: (i) Total counts of bacteria. (ii) Collection of groundwater and porewater and analysis for herbicides and anions. (iii) Degradation studies at low (ppb) herbicide concentrations using radio-labelled herbicides. (iv) Investigation of the role of co-metabolism and adaptation and studies on abiotic degradation. (v) Detailed characterization of the temperature response of herbicide degradation. (vi) Isolation of pure cultures of pesticide degrading bacteria. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologyengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology Programme(s) FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994 Topic(s) 040201 - Risks from agricultural technologies and land use practices to soil, surface and groundwater quality Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF READING Address London road RG6 6AH Reading / silchester United Kingdom See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all BENAKI PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE Greece EU contribution € 0,00 Address 2,ekalis street 2 14561 Kifisia / athina See on map Instituut voor Scheikundig Onderzoek Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address 17/1,leuvense steenweg 3080 Tervuren See on map NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 'DEMOKRITOS' Greece EU contribution € 0,00 Address Patriarchou grogoriou 15310 Athens See on map WRC plc United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Henley road medmenham SL7 2HD Marlow - buckinghamshire See on map