Contrary to assertions made that gamma radiation does not affect pesticides I offer the following: 
 
An Introduction to Environmental Biotechnology
Limited preview - by Milton Wainwright - 1999 - Technology & Engineering - 192 pages
Pesticides can also be removed by physical means including the application of UV light and gamma irradiation
 

Decontamination of pesticide packing using ionizing radiation 
C.L. Duarte, a, , M.N. Moria, Yasko Kodamaa, H. Oikawaa and M.H.O. Sampaa 
aInstituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares-IPEN-CNEN/SP Av. Lineu Prestes 2.242, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil 
Received 27 December 2006;  accepted 16 February 2007.  Available online 10 May 2007. 
 
Abstract
The Brazilian agriculture activities have consumed about 288,000 tons of pesticides per year conditioned in about 107,000,000 packing with weight of approximately 23,000 tons. The discharge of empty plastic packing of pesticides can be an environmental concern causing problems to human health, animals, and plants if done without inspection and monitoring. The objective of this work is to study the ionizing radiation effect in the main pesticides used in Brazil for plastic packing decontamination. Among the commercial pesticides, chlorpyrifos has significant importance because of its wide distribution and extensive use and persistence. The radiation-induced degradation of chlorpyrifos in liquid samples and in polyethylene pack was studied by gamma radiolysis. Packing of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) three layer coextruded, named COEX, contaminated with chlorpyrifos, were irradiated using both a multipurpose Co-60 gamma irradiator and a gamma source with 5000 Ci total activity Gamma cell type. The chemical analysis of the chlorpyrifos was made using a gas chromatography associated to the Mass Spectrometry-GCMS from Shimadzu Model QP 5000. Gamma radiation was efficient for removing chlorpyrifos from the plastic packing, in all studied cases. 
 
Keywords: Gamma radiation; Chlorpyrifos; Packing Decontamination; Pesticides 
 

Corresponding author. 

Radiation Physics and Chemistry 
Volume 76, Issues 11-12, November-December 2007, Pages 1885-1889
 
 
 

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