The adsorption of pesticides onto activated carbon and Hypersol-Macronet(TM) polymers has been compared in small-scale mini-column tests. The adsorption of simazine, chlorotoluron, isoproturon, atrazine and diuron onto hypercrosslinked polymers is selective. Isoproturon is the most preferred pesticide, followed by the sequence: diuron, atrazine, chlorotoluron and simazine. Adsorption of the pesticides appears to be controlled by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding with the surface of the polymer matrix. The pesticide adsorption capacity of Chemviron F-400 activated carbon is significantly greater than the polymeric adsorbents in the absence of fulvic acid. However, the adsorption capacity of the polymeric adsorbents is only slightly reduced in the presence of 20 mgl(-1) fulvic acid whereas there is a very pronounced decrease in pesticide uptake with Chemviron F-400 under similar conditions. This is explained in relation to the physical and chemical properties of the materials.