In this study, preliminary tests were conducted aiming to validate the
use of ceramic porous cup for collecting soil water samples and monit
oring pesticides contents, as usually made for nitrates. Interactions
between porous cup and pesticides were examined under different experi
mental conditions for three herbicides (atrazine, isoproturon, 2,4-D)
and one insecticide (carbofuran). The results showed that ceramic was
not inert for pesticides : as much as 80% of the applied pesticide cou
ld be retained during the flowing of the first tenth milliliters of so
lution. Interactions were attributed to sorption and ''screening'' of
molecules by the porous walls and were related to the ionic character
of pesticides. However, retention was not irreversible, since pesticid
es were quickly released by rinsing with distilled water. After these
tests, porous ceramic cups could be considered as suitable samplers fo
r pesticide determinations in soil solution, contingent on gaining fur
ther informations about soil - porous cup - pesticide interactions.