Link to U.S. Geological Survey Home Page

 

SUMMARY OF COMPOUND DETECTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS

 

Insecticides


| Contents | Summary of Compound Detections and Concentrations— VOCs and Nutrients |

Concentrations of herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds, and nutrients detected in ground and surface waters of the Trinity River Basin Study Unit

[
mg/L, micrograms per liter; %, percent; <, less than; --, not measured; mg/L, milligrams per liter; trade names might vary]

EXPLANATION

explanation graph for detections

Freshwater-chronic criterion for the protection of aquatic life a
Drinking-water standard or guideline a

Range of surface-water detections in all 20 Study Units

Range of ground-water detections in all 20 Study Units

Detection in the Trinity River Basin Study Unit

Insecticide
(Trade or common name)

Rate of 
detection b 
Concentration, in µmg/L
explanation graph

Aldicarbc (Temik)
<1%
0% 
graph showing detections
Aldicarb sulfonec (Standak) 
<1% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Aldicarb sulfoxidec
(Aldicarb metabolite) 

<1% 
0%
graph showing detections
Azinphos-methylc
(Guthion) 

1% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Carbarylc(Sevin, Savit) 
24% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Carbofuranc (Furadan, Curaterr) 
7% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Chlorpyrifos (Dursban, Lorsban)
21% 
<1% 
graph showing detections
p,p’-DDE (p,p’-DDT metabolite)
<1% 
<1% 
graph showing detections
Diazinon 
47% 
>10% 
graph showing detections
Dieldrin (Panoram D-31, Octalox) 
2% 
1% 
graph showing detections
Disulfotonc(Disyston, Dithiosystox) 
<1% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Fonofos (Dyfonate) 
1% 
0% 
graph showing detections
alpha alpha-BHC, alpha-lindane) 
<1% 
0% 
graph showing detections
gamma-HCH 
5% 
0% 
graph showing detections
3-Hydroxycarbofuran 
<1% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Malathion (maldison, malathon, Cythion) 
10% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Methiocarb (Grand slam, Mesurol, Draza) 
<1% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Methomyl (Lannate, Nudrin) 
2% 
0% 
graph showing detections
Methyl parathion (Penncap-M) 
1% 
0% 
graph showing detections
cis-Permethrinc (Ambush, Pounce) 
<1% 
0% 
graph showing detections 

a Selected water-quality standards and guidelines (Gilliom and others, in press). 

b Rates of detection are based on the number of analyses and detections in the Study Unit, not on national data. Rates of detection for herbicides and insecticides were computed by counting only detections equal to or greater than 0.01 mg/L to facilitate equal comparisons among compounds, which had widely varying detection limits. For herbicides and insecticides, a detection rate of “<1%” means that all detections are less than 0.01 mg/L, or the detection rate rounds to less than 1%. For other compound groups, all detections were counted and minimum detection limits for most compounds were similar to the lower end of the national ranges shown. Method detection limits for all compounds in these tables are summarized in (Gilliom and others, in press). 

c Detections of these compounds are reliable, but concentrations are determined with greater uncertainty than for the other compounds and are reported as estimated values (Zaugg and others, 1995). 

d The guideline for methyl tert-butyl ether is between 20 and 40 mg/L; if the tentative cancer classification C is accepted, the lifetime health advisory will be 20 mg/L (Gilliom and others, in press). 

e Selected sediment-quality guidelines (Gilliom and others, in press).