By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is reviewing the state’s pesticide rules to determine whether current regulations provide enough protection for natural resources, including lakes, rivers, and groundwater. The review focuses on pesticides known as neonicotinoids, which are often used as seed treatments.
Neonicotinoid-treated seeds are not classified as active pesticides under federal law, which means they are mostly not covered by certain federal pesticide regulations. Because of this, understanding how these chemicals behave in the environment is important for creating effective protection measures.
Bill Arnold, Ph.D., a professor in the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering, studies how organic pollutants move, break down, and interact within natural water systems. His research explained how chemicals travel through soil, surface water, and groundwater.
“When neonicotinoids are applied to seeds, most of the pesticide is not absorbed by the crop and remains in the environment — specifically in the soil, surface water and groundwater. To establish meaningful protective environmental policies, it is critical to understand how chemicals like neonicotinoids move and change within the environment. This will allow us to understand the context of detected levels of pesticides in our groundwater,” said Arnold.
Arnold’s research focuses on understanding water pollutants and the chemical processes that affect their movement in ecosystems. His research group studies how pollutants react in natural environments to help predict possible impacts and develop improved treatment and cleanup methods.
Seed treatments can provide benefits for crop protection, but researchers continue to examine how leftover chemicals may affect surrounding environments. Studying pesticide movement helps scientists and policymakers better understand possible risks and make informed decisions about water protection.
Funding for Arnold’s research comes from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, based on recommendations from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Farmers on the other hand, believe neonicotinoids are necessary because they provide cost-effective insurance against early-season pests.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zms
Categories: Minnesota, General