Factors influencing neonicotinoid insecticide concentrations in floodplain wetland sediments across Missouri

Environmental Science and Technology
By: , and 

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Abstract

Widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides in North America has led to frequent detection of neonicotinoids in surface waters. Despite frequent surface water detection, few studies have evaluated underlying sediments for the presence of neonicotinoids. Thus, we sampled water and sediments for neonicotinoids during a one-year period at 40 floodplain wetlands throughout Missouri. Analyzed for six common neonicotinoids, sediment samples consistently (63% of samples) contained neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid and clothianidin) in all sampling periods. Mean sediment and aqueous neonicotinoid concentrations were 1.19 μg kg–1 (range: 0–17.99 μg kg–1) and 0.03 μg L–1 (0–0.97 μg L–1), respectively. We used boosted regression tree analysis to explain sediment neonicotinoid concentrations and ultimately identified six variables that accounted for 31.6% of concentration variability. Efforts to limit sediment neonicotinoid contamination could include reducing agriculture within a wetland below a threshold of 25% area planted. Also, prolonging periods of overlying water >25 cm deep when water temperatures reach/exceed 18 °C could promote conditions favorable for neonicotinoid degradation. Results of this study can be useful in determining potential routes and levels of neonicotinoid exposure experienced by nontarget benthic aquatic invertebrates as well as potential means to mitigate neonicotinoid concentrations in floodplain wetlands.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Factors influencing neonicotinoid insecticide concentrations in floodplain wetland sediments across Missouri
Series title Environmental Science and Technology
DOI 10.1021/acs.est.9b01799
Volume 53
Issue 18
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher American Chemical Society
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Atlanta
Description 10 p.
First page 10591
Last page 10600
Country United States
State Missouri
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