Detections of the Neonicotinoid Insecticide Imidacloprid in Surface Waters of Three Agricultural Regions of California, USA, 2010–2011

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 88; no. 3; pp. 316 - 321
• Main Authors: Starner, Keith, Goh, Kean S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.03.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural pollution; Agriculture; Agriculture - statistics & numerical data; analysis; aquatic invertebrates; Aquatic organisms; Aquatic Pollution; California; Canada; chemistry; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental protection; Europe; Fresh Water; Fresh Water - chemistry; guidelines; imidacloprid; Imidazoles; Imidazoles - analysis; Imidazoles - standards; Insecticides; Insecticides - analysis; Insecticides - standards; irrigated farming; irrigation; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds; Nitro Compounds - analysis; Nitro Compounds - standards; Pesticides; Pollution; sampling; Soil Science & Conservation; statistics & numerical data; Surface water; toxicity; United States; United States Environmental Protection Agency; Waste Water Technology; Water analysis; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - standards; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; Water Pollution, Chemical; Water Pollution, Chemical - statistics & numerical data; Water sampling; United States > US; California; Canada; United States; Europe; Pesticide mixtures; Agriculture; Imidacloprid; Surface water
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-011-0515-5

Seventy-five surface water samples were collected from three agricultural regions of California and analyzed for the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid. Samples were collected during California’s relatively dry-weather irrigation seasons in 2010 and 2011. Imidacloprid was detected in 67 samples (89%); concentrations exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s chronic invertebrate Aquatic Life Benchmark of 1.05 μg/L in 14 samples (19%). Concentrations were also frequently greater than similar toxicity guidelines developed for use in Europe and Canada. The results indicate that imidacloprid commonly moves offsite and contaminates surface waters at concentrations that could harm aquatic organisms following use under irrigated agriculture conditions in California.