Estimation of the volatilization of organic compounds from soil surfaces

Several simple models for the estimation of the half-life (t1/2) for the depletion of an organic chemical from a soil surface to air were examined. For moist surfaces, two models are proposed: the first requires knowledge of the soil/organic carbon partition coefficient (Koc) and the Henry’s law constant (H) and the second the vapor pressure (Ps) of the chemical involved. Due to uncertainties in the experimental Koc values those ones predicted by the group-contribution model of Meylan et al. [Environ. Sci. Technol. 26 (1992) 1560]—and proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—should be used. If reliable experimental Ps values are not available, the first model is proposed, where in cases when H values are not available, predicted ones by the Bond-Contribution method of Meylan and Howard [Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 10 (1991) 1283]—and also proposed by EPA—can be used. In general, the agreement of the predicted t1/2 values with the measured ones is within a factor of 3–5. Similar expressions, but with somewhat poorer results, are presented for dry field soils.