Temporal changes in surface-water insecticide concentrations after the phaseout of diazinon and chlorpyrifos

Environmental Science & Technology
By: , and 

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Abstract

The recent (late 2001) federally mandated phaseout of diazinon and chlorpyrifos insecticide use in outdoor urban settings has resulted in a rapid decline in concentrations of these insecticides in urban streams and rivers in the northeastern and midwestern United States. Assessment of temporal insecticide trends at 20 sites showed that significant step decreases in diazinon concentrations occurred at 90% of the sites after the phaseout, with concentrations generally decreasing by over 50% in summer samples. Chlorpyrifos concentrations showed significant step decreases in at least 1 season at 3 of the 4 sites with sufficient data for analysis. The decrease in diazinon concentrations in response to the phaseout resulted in a decline in the frequency of concentrations exceeding the acute invertebrate water-quality benchmark of 0.1 μg/L from 10% of pre-phaseout summer samples to fewer than 1% of post-phaseout summer samples. Although some studies have indicated an increase in concentrations of carbaryl in response to the organophosphorous phaseout, carbaryl concentrations only increased at 1 site after the phaseout. A full assessment of the effect of the phaseout of diazinon and chlorpyrifos on surface water will require data on other insecticides used to replace these compounds.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Temporal changes in surface-water insecticide concentrations after the phaseout of diazinon and chlorpyrifos
Series title Environmental Science & Technology
DOI 10.1021/es070301
Volume 41
Issue 12
Year Published 2007
Language English
Publisher ACS Publications
Description 6 p.
First page 4246
Last page 4251
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