Bacterial metabolism under conditions representing pesticide disposal pits

Bacterial cultures were incubated with pesticides at concentrations ranging from 1 to 5,000 ppm. The species selected are important in one or more of the following biogeochemical processes: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, sulfur oxidation, sulfate reduction, carbon dioxide fixation, and respiratory carbon dioxide evolution. The pesticides used were atrazine, alachlor, carbaryl, parathion, trifluralin, and 2,4-D. Bacterial cultures were exposed to commercial formulations of these pesticides and to pesticide samples from active disposal pits.