An assessment of agrochemical leaching potentials for Tenerife

This paper reports an index-based regional-scale characterization of non-pa int source groundwater contamination potential for the agricultural areas o n the Canary Island of Tenerife. The relative leaching potential for 24 pes ticides was quantitatively assessed and ranked using the Leaching index (Li ) for the soil, landcover, and recharge conditions in Tenerife. The uncerta inty in the Li estimates, due to uncertainties in the soil, recharge, and c hemical data, were accounted for using first-order uncertainty analysis. Se veral of the pesticides considered in this study were assessed to be potent ial leachers. The soil insecticide Carbofuran (il,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7- benzofuranyl-n-methylcarbamate) was found to have the greatest leaching pot ential for the soil, landcover, and recharge conditions across Tenerife. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.