MIGRATION OF PESTICIDE-RESIDUES FROM AGRICULTURAL SOIL TO GROUNDWATER

The pesticide content of agricultural soil and groundwater was investi gated by monitoring three sampling sites located in the Northern Italy and cultivated with maize crop. The GC analyses of soil samples allow ed the description of vertical distribution of pesticide residues in t he soil profile. High concentrations of pesticide were determined in t he superficial horizons while in the deeper layers the contamination r eached values less than 0,2 mu g/kg. The gas chromatographic results w ere positively correlated to the ELISA test ones, proving the possibil ity of utilizing immunoassay tests as a screening procedure.