Monte Carlo Level III Probabilistic Calculation
 Lognormal Distributions for the Half-Lives
Triangular Distributions for the Half-Lives
View Pesticide Emissions in the Great Lakes States
View 2002 Great Lakes Toxic Air Emissions Inventory
There are two choices when running the model in Monte Carlo mode: lognormal distributions for the half-lives and triangular distributions.
Biodegradation data collected for a limited number of pesticides suggest that the degradation profile is typically lognormally
distributed and a mean half-life and standard deviation is required to develop the distribution function.
In the absence of data, risk assessors often employ triangular distributions consisting of a minimum, maximum,
and most likely value. The Henry's Law constant, log Kow, and vapor pressure are also treated as
log normally distributed probabilistic input parameters; however, the coefficient of variation (CV) is fixed. We based the CV
for each of these parameters on data obtained from SRC databases, published papers, estimation programs, and recommendations
made in the CALTOX multi-media fate model. The CV for the Henry's Law constant
and vapor pressure is assumed to be 1, while the standard deviation for the log Kow is
assumed to be 0.5 log units.
Lognormal distributions for the degradation half-life of several pesticides in soil are shown below. In general the coefficient of variation (ratio of standard deviation to the mean half-life) ranges from approximately 0.5 to 2.
| Pesticide |
Mean Half-life (days) |
Standard Deviation (days) |
| Atrazine |
68 |
77 |
| Chlorpyrifos |
66 |
150 |
| 2,4-D |
17 |
26 |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene |
12 |
18 |
| Glyphosate |
33 |
26 |
| Metolachlor |
41 |
38 |
| Permethrin |
27 |
23 |
| Simazine |
78 |
82 |
| Terbufos |
14 |
8 |
| Trifluralin |
200 |
261 |
View the fitted distribution functions for these chemicals.
How can I estimate the input parameters?
The best method is to collect experimental data on the degradation profile of your chemical
and fit the data to a lognormal distribution function.
In the absence of any experimental data the model can estimate these
values for you based upon your chemical's structure. However, these values in water, soil,
and sediment are very approximate at best. Moreover, the half-life estimation in air only considers
degradation via atmospheric oxidants and does not take into account the possibility of direct photolysis.
Therefore, half-lives may be underestimated for compounds that are susceptible to direct photolysis.
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