Occurrence, migration, and ecological risk assessment of Neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of Dongting Lake, China
ABSTRACT: Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) have become an integral part of the global insecticide market due to their high efficiency and low toxicity. However, their environmental persistence has raised significant ecological concerns. Dongting Lake represents a vital freshwater lake in China, and...
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209651922500093X |
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| author | Xiong Mao Yi Huang Zhi-tao Huo Jun Guo Cong Li Feng-cun Huang |
| author_facet | Xiong Mao Yi Huang Zhi-tao Huo Jun Guo Cong Li Feng-cun Huang |
| author_sort | Xiong Mao |
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| description | ABSTRACT: Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) have become an integral part of the global insecticide market due to their high efficiency and low toxicity. However, their environmental persistence has raised significant ecological concerns. Dongting Lake represents a vital freshwater lake in China, and its ecosystem health directly affects regional ecological balance and people’s livelihoods. This study systematically investigated the occurrence characteristics and ecological risks of NEOs in water bodies and sediments across the Dongting Lake basin. Based on surface water and sediment samples collected from 26 representative sampling sites, this study quantified nine NEOs using liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Furthermore, it assessed ecological risks posed by the NEOs using the risk quotient (RQ) method and fugacity modeling. The results revealed the presence of six NEOs in the water bodies: imidacloprid (IMI), acetamiprid (ACE), clothianidin (CLO), thiamethoxam (THIA), flonicamid (FLO), and dinotefuran (DIN). The total concentrations of these six NEOs averaged 275.11 ng/L. Five predominant NEOs (i.e., IMI, THIA, ACE, CLO, and DIN) were identified in the sediments, with a mean concentration of 0.31 ng/g. The NEO concentrations in the water bodies across the Dongting Lake basin increased in the order of the Xiangjiang, Zishui, Yuanjiang, and Lishui rivers (collectively referred to as the Four Rivers), the mainstream of Dongting Lake, the Xinqiang River, the Miluo River, and the Hudu, Ouchi, and Songzi rivers (collectively referred to as the Three Outlets). Sediments from tributaries progressively accumulate in the lake. The ecological risk assessment identified IMI and DIN as the highest-risk compounds (RQ > 1), with high-risk areas concentrated in the mainstream of Dongting Lake and the Ouchi, Miluo, and Hudu rivers. The fugacity model showed that IMI, ACE, and THIA are prone to diffuse from sediments to water bodies in most areas, with fugacity fractions (ff) values of greater than 0.5. In contrast, the mainstream of Dongting Lake acts as a sink of CLO and DIN (ff values: < 0.5). Sediments at the lake’s outlet emerge as an important sink of NEOs. Based on the results of this study, it is advisable to strengthen the supervision of NEO applications in agricultural areas and to implement zonal control strategies. These measures will help reduce ecological risks and protect the safety of water ecosystems in the Dongting Lake region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5750d38f5a8e4f5abc55981c5b3e2a5f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2589-9430 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-5750d38f5a8e4f5abc55981c5b3e2a5f2025-08-20T03:57:31ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.China Geology2589-94302025-07-018355055910.1016/S2096-5192(25)00093-XOccurrence, migration, and ecological risk assessment of Neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of Dongting Lake, ChinaXiong Mao0Yi Huang1Zhi-tao Huo2Jun Guo3Cong Li4Feng-cun Huang5Changsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Changsha 410600, ChinaNational Research Center for Geoanalysis, Beijing 100037, China; Key Laboratory of Eco-geochemistry, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Beijing 100037, China; Corresponding author: (Huang Yi).Changsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Changsha 410600, ChinaChangsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Changsha 410600, ChinaChangsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Changsha 410600, ChinaChangsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Changsha 410600, ChinaABSTRACT: Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) have become an integral part of the global insecticide market due to their high efficiency and low toxicity. However, their environmental persistence has raised significant ecological concerns. Dongting Lake represents a vital freshwater lake in China, and its ecosystem health directly affects regional ecological balance and people’s livelihoods. This study systematically investigated the occurrence characteristics and ecological risks of NEOs in water bodies and sediments across the Dongting Lake basin. Based on surface water and sediment samples collected from 26 representative sampling sites, this study quantified nine NEOs using liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Furthermore, it assessed ecological risks posed by the NEOs using the risk quotient (RQ) method and fugacity modeling. The results revealed the presence of six NEOs in the water bodies: imidacloprid (IMI), acetamiprid (ACE), clothianidin (CLO), thiamethoxam (THIA), flonicamid (FLO), and dinotefuran (DIN). The total concentrations of these six NEOs averaged 275.11 ng/L. Five predominant NEOs (i.e., IMI, THIA, ACE, CLO, and DIN) were identified in the sediments, with a mean concentration of 0.31 ng/g. The NEO concentrations in the water bodies across the Dongting Lake basin increased in the order of the Xiangjiang, Zishui, Yuanjiang, and Lishui rivers (collectively referred to as the Four Rivers), the mainstream of Dongting Lake, the Xinqiang River, the Miluo River, and the Hudu, Ouchi, and Songzi rivers (collectively referred to as the Three Outlets). Sediments from tributaries progressively accumulate in the lake. The ecological risk assessment identified IMI and DIN as the highest-risk compounds (RQ > 1), with high-risk areas concentrated in the mainstream of Dongting Lake and the Ouchi, Miluo, and Hudu rivers. The fugacity model showed that IMI, ACE, and THIA are prone to diffuse from sediments to water bodies in most areas, with fugacity fractions (ff) values of greater than 0.5. In contrast, the mainstream of Dongting Lake acts as a sink of CLO and DIN (ff values: < 0.5). Sediments at the lake’s outlet emerge as an important sink of NEOs. Based on the results of this study, it is advisable to strengthen the supervision of NEO applications in agricultural areas and to implement zonal control strategies. These measures will help reduce ecological risks and protect the safety of water ecosystems in the Dongting Lake region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209651922500093XNeonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs)Surface waterSedimentOccurrence characteristicEcological riskMigration pattern |
| spellingShingle | Xiong Mao Yi Huang Zhi-tao Huo Jun Guo Cong Li Feng-cun Huang Occurrence, migration, and ecological risk assessment of Neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of Dongting Lake, China China Geology Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) Surface water Sediment Occurrence characteristic Ecological risk Migration pattern |
| title | Occurrence, migration, and ecological risk assessment of Neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of Dongting Lake, China |
| title_full | Occurrence, migration, and ecological risk assessment of Neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of Dongting Lake, China |
| title_fullStr | Occurrence, migration, and ecological risk assessment of Neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of Dongting Lake, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occurrence, migration, and ecological risk assessment of Neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of Dongting Lake, China |
| title_short | Occurrence, migration, and ecological risk assessment of Neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of Dongting Lake, China |
| title_sort | occurrence migration and ecological risk assessment of neonicotinoid insecticides in water and sediments of dongting lake china |
| topic | Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) Surface water Sediment Occurrence characteristic Ecological risk Migration pattern |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209651922500093X |
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