University Of Minnesota Study Reveals Neonicotinoid Contamination In State Water Supplies

University Of Minnesota Study Reveals Neonicotinoid Contamination In State Water Supplies

Concerns around water quality in Minnesota have surfaced following a recent study by the University of Minnesota, which uncovers widespread contamination of the state's water supply with neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly referred to as neonics. The research findings, published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, detail how these chemicals have infiltrated ground and surface waters throughout Minnesota, a state heavily reliant on these resources for potable water.

Funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), the research has implications for Minnesotans' health, especially for those using shallow groundwater or springs. Based on the water samples collected from various parts of Minnesota, researchers highlighted a distinct risk gradient. According to the published data, "Individuals relying on shallow groundwater or springs for drinking water have a higher risk of contamination from neonicotinoids compared to those getting their drinking water from deep groundwater wells."

This study comes alongside efforts from U of M researchers and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who, through rigorous sampling, have charted the presence of different classes of neonics across urban and rural locales. These findings are not only instrumental in revealing the state's environmental challenges but are also helping shape future monitoring and treatment strategies.

Moreover, the study's lead, Bill Arnold, a professor in the College of Science and Engineering, emphasized the pervasiveness and accessibility of such insecticides in the local market. "We use so many of these insecticides in Minnesota — basically every corn and soybean seed is treated before planting — and many of these chemicals can be purchased at a local hardware store for spraying fruit trees, flea and tick control for your pets, and eliminating bedbugs," Arnold said in a statement obtained by the University of Minnesota's News Release.

In response to these disturbing revelations, there is an ongoing initiative spearheaded by researchers to work with county and state agencies so as to include neonicotinoids on water monitoring lists. These actions aim to bring attention to the potential ecological impacts and inform local districts of the inherent risks these chemicals pose. Upcoming collaborations with the U of M St. Anthony Falls Laboratory will delve into stormwater treatment methods, particularly targeting urban areas, with the goal of reducing neonicotinoid levels.

SOURCE: hoodline