If released to water, leptophos will partition from the water column to sediment and suspended material. The results of one screening study indicate that chemical degradation is more important in natural water than biodegradation. A measured BCF value of 6058 in topmouth gudgeon fish indicates that aquatic bioconcentration may be an important fate process. 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.