Widespread detections of neonicotinoid contaminants in central Wisconsin groundwater

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201753
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03T17:36:53Z
• Authors: Benjamin Z. Bradford; Anders S. Huseth; Russell L. Groves
• Keywords: Neonicotinoid; Acetamiprid

Neonicotinoids are a popular and widely-used class of insecticides whose heavy usage rates purported negative impacts on bees other beneficial insects has led to questions about their mobility accumulation in the environment. Neonicotinoid compounds currently registered for over 140 different crop uses United States, with commercial growers continuing rely heavily neonicotinoid control key insect pests through combination in-ground foliar applications. In 2008, Wisconsin Department Agriculture, Trade Consumer Protection (DATCP) began testing neonicotinoids groundwater test wells state, reporting detections one or more dozens shallow wells. 2011, similar detection levels were confirmed several high-capacity overhead center-pivot irrigation systems central Wisconsin. The current study was initiated investigate spatial extent magnitude contamination around areas irrigated agriculture From 2013-2015 total 317 samples collected from 91 unique tested presence thiamethoxam (TMX), neonicotinoid, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. 67% all positive TMX at concentration above analytical limit quantification (0.05 μg/L) 78% least once. Mean 0.28 μg/L, maximum 1.67 μg/L. Five had exceeding 1.00 Furthermore, an analysis structure these well detects suggests that profiles vary across landscape, differences mean observed landscape (25 km), farm (5 individual (500 m) scales. We also provide update DATCP's monitoring Wisconsin's private potable years 2011-2017.