Occurrence and Ecological Risks of Neonicotinoids in Wheat, Corn and Rice Field Soils in China

The global application of neonicotinoids (NEOs) has precipitated pervasive contamination of agricultural matrices, with China’s staple crop lands representing critical exposure hotspots. The occurrence and ecological risks of ten NEOs in the field soils of three major crops (i.e., rice, wheat and co...

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Main Authors: Junxue Wu, Pingzhong Yu, Ziyu Zou, Ercheng Zhao, Junjie Jing, Jinwei Zhang, Yan Tao, Lirui Ren, Min He, Li Chen, Ping Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1803
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author Junxue Wu
Pingzhong Yu
Ziyu Zou
Ercheng Zhao
Junjie Jing
Jinwei Zhang
Yan Tao
Lirui Ren
Min He
Li Chen
Ping Han
author_facet Junxue Wu
Pingzhong Yu
Ziyu Zou
Ercheng Zhao
Junjie Jing
Jinwei Zhang
Yan Tao
Lirui Ren
Min He
Li Chen
Ping Han
author_sort Junxue Wu
collection DOAJ
description The global application of neonicotinoids (NEOs) has precipitated pervasive contamination of agricultural matrices, with China’s staple crop lands representing critical exposure hotspots. The occurrence and ecological risks of ten NEOs in the field soils of three major crops (i.e., rice, wheat and corn) in China were investigated in the present study. Employing an optimized UPLC-MS/MS method (LOQ = 0.01–1.7 ng/g, RSD < 12.21%), ten NEOs across 69 representative field soils (rice: 23, corn: 18, wheat: 28) were quantified. It was found that the detection frequency (DF) of the NEOs was 100% in the soil. The DFs of NEOs in the soil followed the rule: imidacloprid (IMI, 100%) > thiamethoxam (TMX, 88.4%) > clothianidin (CLO, 87.0%) > acetamiprid (ACE, 46.4%) > dinotefuran (DIN, 7.2%) > nitenpyram (NIT, 1.4%). Mean total detected NEOs concentrations exhibited crop-dependent type: wheat (1.77–214.55 ng/g) > corn (0.79–97.53 ng/g) > rice (0.75–72.97 ng/g). The IMI, CLO and TMX triad constituted over 90% of the total contribution of detected NEOs. In addition, CLO and TMX in the rice soils, IMI, CLO and TMX in the corn soils and IMI, CLO and TMX in the wheat soils had medium ecological risks. Therefore, it is particularly important for agricultural ecological protection to strengthen monitoring and take effective measures to protect agricultural ecology.
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spelling doaj-art-758ecb6ee8cf4623bd1858ae4e8934cc2025-08-20T02:28:41ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01308180310.3390/molecules30081803Occurrence and Ecological Risks of Neonicotinoids in Wheat, Corn and Rice Field Soils in ChinaJunxue Wu0Pingzhong Yu1Ziyu Zou2Ercheng Zhao3Junjie Jing4Jinwei Zhang5Yan Tao6Lirui Ren7Min He8Li Chen9Ping Han10Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit and Vegetable Pests in North China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaThe global application of neonicotinoids (NEOs) has precipitated pervasive contamination of agricultural matrices, with China’s staple crop lands representing critical exposure hotspots. The occurrence and ecological risks of ten NEOs in the field soils of three major crops (i.e., rice, wheat and corn) in China were investigated in the present study. Employing an optimized UPLC-MS/MS method (LOQ = 0.01–1.7 ng/g, RSD < 12.21%), ten NEOs across 69 representative field soils (rice: 23, corn: 18, wheat: 28) were quantified. It was found that the detection frequency (DF) of the NEOs was 100% in the soil. The DFs of NEOs in the soil followed the rule: imidacloprid (IMI, 100%) > thiamethoxam (TMX, 88.4%) > clothianidin (CLO, 87.0%) > acetamiprid (ACE, 46.4%) > dinotefuran (DIN, 7.2%) > nitenpyram (NIT, 1.4%). Mean total detected NEOs concentrations exhibited crop-dependent type: wheat (1.77–214.55 ng/g) > corn (0.79–97.53 ng/g) > rice (0.75–72.97 ng/g). The IMI, CLO and TMX triad constituted over 90% of the total contribution of detected NEOs. In addition, CLO and TMX in the rice soils, IMI, CLO and TMX in the corn soils and IMI, CLO and TMX in the wheat soils had medium ecological risks. Therefore, it is particularly important for agricultural ecological protection to strengthen monitoring and take effective measures to protect agricultural ecology.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1803neonicotinoidsoccurrencesoilecological risks
spellingShingle Junxue Wu
Pingzhong Yu
Ziyu Zou
Ercheng Zhao
Junjie Jing
Jinwei Zhang
Yan Tao
Lirui Ren
Min He
Li Chen
Ping Han
Occurrence and Ecological Risks of Neonicotinoids in Wheat, Corn and Rice Field Soils in China
Molecules
neonicotinoids
occurrence
soil
ecological risks
title Occurrence and Ecological Risks of Neonicotinoids in Wheat, Corn and Rice Field Soils in China
title_full Occurrence and Ecological Risks of Neonicotinoids in Wheat, Corn and Rice Field Soils in China
title_fullStr Occurrence and Ecological Risks of Neonicotinoids in Wheat, Corn and Rice Field Soils in China
title_full_unstemmed Occurrence and Ecological Risks of Neonicotinoids in Wheat, Corn and Rice Field Soils in China
title_short Occurrence and Ecological Risks of Neonicotinoids in Wheat, Corn and Rice Field Soils in China
title_sort occurrence and ecological risks of neonicotinoids in wheat corn and rice field soils in china
topic neonicotinoids
occurrence
soil
ecological risks
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1803
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