Notorious 'Neonics' Pervasive in Midwest Waters: Study

[Judi Lynn]

Published on Thursday, July 24, 2014

by Common Dreams

Notorious 'Neonics' Pervasive in Midwest Waters: Study

Researchers from the USGS found the insecticides in waterways of nation's corn, soy region.
by Andrea Germanos, staff writer



A cornfield in Nebraska. (Photo: Richard Hurd)

A new study has added to mounting evidence against a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, or "neonics."

Linked in numerous studies to bee declines, the new research looks at neonics' impacts on surface water.

Researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey looked at 9 rivers and streams in the U.S. Midwest—home to vast plantings of corn and soybeans as well as widespread use of neonics—in the 2013 growing season.

The researchers detected neonics in all the waterways, which included the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. One systemic pesticide, clothianidin, was found in 75 percent of the water samples.

“We noticed higher levels of these insecticides after rain storms during crop planting, which is similar to the spring flushing of herbicides that has been documented in Midwestern U.S. rivers and streams,” USGS scientist Michelle Hladick, the report’s lead author, said in a statement.

More:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/07/24/notorious-neonics-pervasive-midwest-waters-study

[silverweb]

1. Just terrific.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Next crash: Midwest Big Ag (after the pollinators are wiped out).

And this is now contaminating the water millions of people and other animals need, too.

[mopinko]

2. leave some weeds for the bees.

i get shit for this, but fuck the morons. i smell the planet burning.