Bioconcentration of organic chemical vapors in plant leaves: experimental measurements and correlation

The accumulation and release kinetics on azalea leaves exposed to constant vapor levels of certain pesticides are reported. Leaf/air bioconcentration factors from these and similar studies were used to develop a correlation with air/water and 1-octanol/water partition coefficients. When the air/water dimensionless partition coefficient is high, it tends to reduce the bioconcentration potential of highly lipophilic chemicals such as mirex. When small, it may increase the bioaffinity of poorly liposoluble compounds such as thionazin.