Uptake and leaching of toxic heterocyclic UDMH transformation products in water-plant system

Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) is a widely used propellant that spontaneously forms a large number of various products when spilled into the environment. A model solution was prepared containing 12 selected nitrogen-containing heterocycles and acyclic compounds. These are referred to in the literature as UDMH transformation products or assumed UDMH transformation products. The study used Brassica napus (oilseed rape) and Medicago polymorpha (burr medic) as test plants for seed germination and plant growth experiments. It was found that plants exhibited a 7–10 times higher uptake rate for 1,2,4-triazole, imidazole, and substituted imidazoles when compared to other selected compounds. It was shown that 1,2,4-triazole not only accumulated in plant tissues, but was the only compound to remain at the same concentrations after transferring plants to a clean medium for 2 weeks. Given that burr medic is a forage crop and oilseed rape is used as an oilseed crop, it is possible for a substance like triazole to reach humans through the food chain. Thus, the analysis of plant material in combination with the analysis of natural water and soil could provide a very powerful tool for detecting the alleged use of UDMH or chemicals containing substances similar to the UDMH transformation products.