Journal article
Prevalence of neonicotinoids and sulfoxaflor in alluvial aquifers in a high corn and soybean producing region of the Midwestern United States
The Science of the total environment, Vol.782, p.146762
08/15/2021
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146762
Abstract
Neonicotinoids have been previously detected in Iowa surface waters, but less is known regarding their occurrence in groundwater. To help fill this research gap, a groundwater study was conducted in eastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota, a corn and soybean producing area with known heavy neonicotinoid use. Neonicotinoids were studied in alluvial aquifers, a hydrogeologic setting known to be vulnerable to surface-applied contaminants. Groundwater samples were analyzed from 40 wells for six neonicotinoid compounds (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam), and sulfoxaflor. Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with both direct aqueous injection and solid phase extraction methods. Neonicotinoids were prevalent in the alluvial aquifers with 73% of the wells having at least one neonicotinoid detection. Clothianidin (68%, max: 391.7 ng/L) was the most commonly detected, followed by imidacloprid (43%, max: 6.7 ng/L) and thiamethoxam (3%, max: 0.2 ng/L). Acetamiprid, dinotefuran, sulfoxaflor, and thiacloprid were not detected during the study. The solid phase extraction method was more sensitive than direct aqueous injection, where only clothianidin detected in 23% of samples. SPE is the preferred method for detecting low concentrations of hydrophilic pesticides in water. This study documented that the combination of heavy chemical use overlying a hydrogeologic setting vulnerable to surface applied contaminants leads to transport of neonicotinoids into an important groundwater resource.
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•Neonicotinoids are prevalent in 73% of sampled alluvial aquifers.•Clothianidin was the most commonly detected neonicotinoid.•Neonicotinoid concentrations inversely related to well depth.•Use in vulnerable hydrogeologic settings leads to transport into groundwater.•Solid phase extraction method was more sensitive than direct aqueous injection.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Prevalence of neonicotinoids and sulfoxaflor in alluvial aquifers in a high corn and soybean producing region of the Midwestern United States
- Creators
- Darrin A. Thompson - University of IowaDana W. Kolpin - United States Geological SurveyMichelle L. Hladik - United States Geological SurveyKimberlee K. Barnes - United States Geological SurveyJohn D. Vargo - University of IowaR. William Field - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, Vol.782, p.146762
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146762
- ISSN
- 0048-9697
- eISSN
- 1879-1026
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/15/2021
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination
- Record Identifier
- 9984364400202771
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