If released to soil, leptophos will adsorb strongly and will not leach. Hydrolysis may be an important transformation process in moist, alkaline soils. Insufficient data are available to assess the relative importance of biodegradation in soil. Based upon the results a laboratory study and a review of other leptophos persistence studies, it has been concluded that leptophos is one of the most persistent organophosphorus compounds in the environment. Occupational exposure to leptophos may occur through dermal contact and inhalation of dust and sprays, especially to workers applying the compound as an insecticide.
Insufficient data are available to assess the relative importance of biodegradation in soil.
A foliar half-life of 4.0 days has been reported for endive plants . In water, leptophos will partition from the water column to sediment and suspended material and can be expected to remain largely in the sediment. Laboratory studies with various Egyptian natural waters have suggested the degradation rate may decrease in the presence of solids and sediment . Particulate phase leptophos and aerosols released to air during spray applications of leptophos insecticide can be removed from air physically by dry and wet deposition. Leptophos has been qualitatively detected in open waters of Lake St Clair of the Great Lakes ecosystem .