The study on the effects of light source, solution pH and temperature, and surfactant on the photochemical degradation of chlorothalonil showed that the half-life of chlorothalonil photodegradation under high pressure mercury lamp (HPML), UV lamp and sunlight was 22.4, 82.5 and 123.8 min, respectively. Under HPML and sunlight, chlorothalonil had a higher photolysis rate in alkaline solution than in neutral and acid solution. The photolysis rate increased with increasing solution temperature in the range of 10 degrees C - 40 degrees C, which was doubled when the temperature increased every 10 degrees C. Sodium laurylsulfonate (SDS), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), Tween 60 and Span 20 showed significant photosensitizing effects, while cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) had significant photoquench effect on the photolysis of chlorothalonil.