What process describes the movement of pesticides into water after breaking down?

The correct answer, leaching, refers to the process by which soluble substances, such as pesticides, are washed out of the soil and into groundwater or surface water, typically as a result of precipitation or irrigation. When pesticides break down, their components may dissolve in water and move through the soil, eventually reaching water bodies or aquifers. This process can have significant environmental impacts, as it can lead to water pollution and affect aquatic ecosystems as well as human water supplies.

Dispersal generally describes the spreading of organisms or substances throughout an area but does not specifically refer to water movement. Evaporation pertains to the process by which water turns from liquid to vapor and does not involve the transport of pesticides into water. Contamination is a broader term that could encompass many types of pollution, but it does not specifically indicate the process of pesticide movement into water after their breakdown. Thus, leaching accurately captures the dynamic of pesticide movement as it relates to water infiltration and transport.