According to a study by the universities of Tokyo and Hokkaido, neonicotinoids could not only enter the environment through surface runoff as previously known, but also through precipitation.
Neonicotinoids may be spreading in the environment through previously unknown pathways. According to a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Tokyo and Hokkaido University, these pesticide compounds can be distributed over a wide area through rainfall, at least in low concentrations. The study was published in the scientific journal "Environmental Monitoring and Contaminants Research". The Japanese scientists analyzed rainwater for their study. According to their findings, 91% of the samples examined showed residues of neonicotinoids. The most commonly detected active ingredient was Acetamiprid, with an average concentration of 0.36 nanograms per liter, followed by Thiacloprid with 0.28 nanograms per liter, and Dinotefuran with 9.52 nanograms per liter. As stated in the study, it was previously only known that dry particles of neonicotinoids could be dispersed through the air. Due to the low evaporation rate of the chemicals, the focus had mainly been on the entry through surface runoff from agricultural areas. The research results now indicate that rainfall could also play a role in the distribution of neonicotinoids in the form of slightly volatile substances, according to the scientists.
