Chemical and Pathogenic Contaminant Exposure: Pesticides

Pesticides, including those used to combat insects, bacterial/viral/fungal infestations, and weeds, are used in in large quantities in U.S. agriculture as well as at our homes. The toxicity of pesticides in drinking water and their behavior in the environment varies from compound to compound. The USEPA maintains Maxiumum Contaminant Levels for several pesticides. Although the USEPA regulates and provides guidance on the use of pesticides, the application is often directly to the environment and consequently some pesticides are transported to water resources and can become drinking water contaminants.

The U.S. Geological Survey provides environmental occurrence data and information for a wide range of pesticides (with and without MCLs). In addition, many USGS research projects investigate the fate and transport of pesticides in the environment.

In Drinking Water:

• Pesticides in reservoirs and treated drinking water
• Domestic wells of the United States
• Pesticides in the Nation's Streams and Ground Water

Sources, environmental occurrence, fate and transport

• Measuring pesticides and how they transform in the environment
• Cotton pesticides fate and transport in the United States
• Ground water in Michigan and Wisconsin
• Atrazine transport in a drinking water reservoir
• Citrus pesticides in ground water and lakes in central Florida

Other Sources of USGS Information on Pesticides:

• National Water Quality Assessment Pesticide National Synthesis

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://health.usgs.gov/dw_contaminants/pesticides.html
Page Contact Information: Herb Buxton
Page Last Modified: 26-Jun-2007@10:26