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#           Occurrence of fungicides and other pesticides in surface water, groundwater, and sediment from three targeted-use areas in the United States, 2009      

      November 26, 2013    

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Surface-water, groundwater, and suspended- and bedsediment samples were collected in three targeted-use areas in the United States where potatoes were grown during 2009 and analyzed for an extensive suite of fungicides and other pesticides by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Fungicides were detected in all environmental matrices sampled during the study. The most frequently detected fungicides were azoxystrobin, boscalid, chlorothalonil, and pyraclostrobin. Other pesticides that were detected frequently included amino phosphonic acid (AMPA), atrazine, metolaclor, and the organochlorine insecticide p,p’-DDT and its degradates p,p’-DDD and p,p’-DDE. A greater number of pesticides were detected in surface water relative to the other environmental matrices sampled, and at least one pesticide was detected in 62 of the 63 surfacewater samples. The greatest numbers of pesticides and the maximum observed concentrations for most pesticides were measured in surface-water samples from Idaho. In eight surface- water samples (six from Idaho and two from Wisconsin), concentrations of bifenthrin, metolachlor, or malathion exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency freshwater aquatic-life benchmarks for chronic toxicity to invertebrates. Thirteen pesticides, including seven fungicides, were detected in groundwater samples. Shallow groundwater samples collected beneath recently harvested potato fields contained more pesticides and had higher concentrations of pesticides than samples collected from other groundwater sources sampled during the study. Generally, pesticide concentrations were lower in groundwater samples than in surfacewater or sediment samples, with the exception of the fungicide boscalid, which was found to have its highest concentration in a shallow groundwater sample collected in Wisconsin. Thirteen pesticides, including four fungicides, were detected in suspended-sediment samples. The most frequently detected compounds were the fungicides boscalid, pyraclostrobin, and zoxamide, and the degradates p,p’-DDD and p,p’-DDE. Twenty pesticides, including six fungicides, were detected in bed-sediment samples. The most frequently detected compounds were pyraclostrobin, p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDD, and p,p’-DDE.

## Citation Information

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#### James Orlando

##### Hydrologist

California Water Science Center

jorlando@usgs.gov

916-278-3271

#### Timothy Reilly

##### Environmental Health Deputy Program Coordinator

Ecosystems Mission Area

tjreilly@usgs.gov

609-771-3962

#### Adam Boehlke

##### Geologist

Central Energy Resources Science Center

aboehlke@usgs.gov

303-236-1629

####             Kathryn Kuivila (Former Employee)          

##### Scientist Emeritus

Oregon Water Science Center

## Related Content

#### James Orlando

##### Hydrologist

California Water Science Center

jorlando@usgs.gov

916-278-3271

#### Timothy Reilly

##### Environmental Health Deputy Program Coordinator

Ecosystems Mission Area

tjreilly@usgs.gov

609-771-3962

#### Adam Boehlke

##### Geologist

Central Energy Resources Science Center

aboehlke@usgs.gov

303-236-1629

####             Kathryn Kuivila (Former Employee)          

##### Scientist Emeritus

Oregon Water Science Center

### Contact

####               Sacramento Projects Office (USGS California Water Science Center)          

6000 J Street, Placer HallSacramento, CA95819United States

916-278-3000

916-278-3070

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