Fate and effects of azadirachtin in aquatic mesocosms--1: fate in water and bottom sediments.

The fate and effects of azadirachtin were examined using in situ enclosures deployed in a typical forest pond of northern Ontario. A commercial azadirachtin-based insecticide formulation, Neemix 4.5, was applied as the test substance. Fate studies were conducted to determine kinetics and persistence of azadirachtin isomers A and B in the aqueous phase and whether either isomer partitioned significantly to bottom sediments or pore water. Aqueous azadirachtin residues dissipated following slow linear kinetics with time to 50% dissipation of 25, 45, and 30 days for azadirachtin A, azadirachtin B, and total residues, respectively. Sediment pore water concentrations increased slowly, reaching low-level equilibrium with the overlying water column toward the end of the summer season. No significant sorption to bottom sediments was observed. Results demonstrated that fate and dissipation of azadirachtin residues are consistent from year to year and that biota may be chronically exposed to diminishing levels of azadirachtins A and B in aqueous phase under conditions of a typical forest pond environment.