Pyrethroid Insecticide Contamination of Streams Increases with Urbanization

Mill Creek in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sediments from urban streams were sampled in seven metropolitan areas across the Nation. Photo credit: Alan Cressler, USGS.
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Contamination and toxicity in streambed sediments caused by pyrethroid insecticides generally increased with the degree of urbanization in seven metropolitan areas across the Nation, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study recently published in Environmental Science and Technology. Pyrethroids are a group of synthetic insecticides similar to the natural pesticide pyrethrum—produced by chrysanthemum flowers – but in a much more potent form - that are used to control insect pests. USGS scientists tested for 14 commonly used pyrethroid insecticides in 98 streams within the following metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Milwaukee-Green Bay, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. The scientists conducted laboratory toxicity tests on sediments from the streams, and the tests showed that pyrethroid insecticides did reach levels that were toxic to aquatic organisms. The scientists observed decreased

USGS scientist uses a very sensitive instrument to measure concentrations of pyrethroid insecticides in sediments. By comparing chemical concentrations to toxicity measured in laboratory tests, USGS scientists can show that pyrethroids are likely a major cause of the observed toxicity.
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Funding for this study was provided by the USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program, and the Contaminants Biology Program.

Reference

Kuivila, K.M., Hladik, M.L., Ingersoll, C.G., Kemble, N.E., Moran, P.W., Calhoun, D.L., Nowell, L.H., and Gilliom, R.J., 2012, Occurrence and potential sources of pyrethroid insecticides in stream sediments from seven U.S. metropolitan areas: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 46, no. 8, p. 4297-4303, doi:10.1021/es2044882.

Moran, P.W., Calhoun, D.L., Nowell, L.H., Kemble, N.E., Ingersoll, C.G., Hladik, M.L., Kuivila, K.M., Falcone, J.A., and Gilliom, R.J., 2012, Contaminants in stream sediments from seven U.S. metropolitan areas--Data summary of a national pilot study: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5092, 66 p.

More Information

• Pesticide Contamination in Varied Pesticide-Use Settings Investigation
• Are Pyrethroid Insecticides in Our Streams?
• USGS Release: Insecticide Contamination Increases with Urbanization
• Pesticide National Synthesis Project, NAWQA Program
• Agricultural Chemicals: Sources, Transport and Fate, A Topical Study, NAWQA Program

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