It will be subject to loss by evaporation but will not hydrolyze or be removed significantly by runoff unless carried off adsorbed to clay particles. Toxaphene has some water solubility. Toxaphene released to water systems will not be likely to significantly hydrolyze, photolyze or significantly biodegrade. It will strongly sorb to sediments and bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms. Detoxification occurred in 1 yr in a shallow lake with concn in water 0.6 ppb while the concn remained at 1.2 ppb after 5 yrs in a deep lake .
Toxic effects diminish or toxaphene becomes unavailable.
Toxaphene in the atmosphere is not readily degraded by direct photolysis. Toxaphene was detected, not quantified in one or more California municipal drinking water wells .