Minnesota

Minnesota warning as springs polluted with pesticides, analysis reveals

Published

1 year ago

October 22, 2024

Minnesota warning as springs polluted with pesticides, analysis reveals

Pesticides have been found in high concentrations in ground and surface water sources in Minnesota, not only posing a risk to local wildlife but possibly also contaminating drinking water for many of the state’s residents.

In a new study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, Arnold and colleagues from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources collected water samples from 15 natural springs and 75 unique wells across 13 Minnesota counties between 2019 and 2022. Samples were included from both urban and rural areas as well as water sources at various depths.

What they found was that water in natural springs were particularly susceptible to contamination with these insecticides.

Over 450,000 tons of pesticides are used in the U.S. every year, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Not only can these chemicals seep into surrounding ecosystems and affect plants and animals, but they may also harm human health.

Photo of a worker measuring out pesticide chemicals with an inset of a glass of spring water. Spring water samples showed particularly high levels of insecticide contamination when tested.

ArtTim/roman023/Getty

The health impacts of these chemicals depend on the types of pesticide used, but several common agricultural chemicals have been associated with developmental and hormonal disruptions, as well as neurotoxic effects. Other studies have suggested that exposure to these chemicals may be as bad as smoking when it comes to increasing our risk of certain types of cancers. However, it is unclear how much exposure is required to see these effects.

Insecticides are a class of pesticide that target insects in both agriculture and urban pest control. Due to their widespread nature, these chemicals not only end up as residues on our food, but can also get swept away into surrounding lakes, rivers, and groundwater systems.

“We use so many of these chemicals in Minnesota. Basically, every corn and soybean seed is treated before planting,” Bill Arnold, a professor in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, said in a statement. “Many of these chemicals can be purchased at a local hardware store that can be used for spraying fruit trees, flea and tick control for your pets, and eliminating bedbugs.”

“We were surprised by the high levels of the chemical detected in the natural springs and in some cases the chemicals were observed at much deeper levels in wells than we expected going into this project,” Arnold said.

“Oftentimes people think a natural spring has water that is safe to drink. That’s not necessarily true, it depends on how deep that water is sourced.”

In light of these findings, the research team is working with county and state agencies to include insecticides in water treatment monitoring lists and to improve the treatment of stormwater in urban environments to facilitate the removal of the chemical pollutants.

Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.

References

Gerken, J., Vincent, G. T., Zapata, D., Barron, I. G., & Zapata, I. (2024). Comprehensive assessment of pesticide use patterns and increased cancer risk. Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcacs.2024.1368086

Goedjen, G. J., Capel, P. D., Barry, J. D., & Arnold, W. A. (2024). Occurrence and distribution of neonicotinoids and fiproles within groundwater in Minnesota: Effects of lithology, land use and geography. The Science of the Total Environment, 176411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176411

Source link

Click to comment

Minnesota

Former Minnesota Twins Prospect Speaks on Retiring from MLB

Published

12 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Former Minnesota Twins Prospect Speaks on Retiring from MLB

Does The NWSL Know What Soccer Fans Actually Want? | Full Time PodcastWelcome to Full Time, a show about women’s soccer.

In this episode, Meg and Tamerra dive into the world of NWSL fan supporter groups. As the NWSL is coveting new eyeballs and growth, an announcement that the league would be establishing a “league supporter’s group” as a sponsorship collaboration with an energy drink named Unwell, has sparked questions and concern among fan led groups – who have been on the ground building the league for over a decade now.

Full Time hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan discuss tension in the relationship between the league and its supporters. With the help of voices from four different NWSL supporter’s groups from across the country, Tamerra and Meg unpack what values are most important to key community stakeholders and where the NWSL might well be falling short.

Thumbnail credit: Roy K. Miller/ISI Photos / Contributor / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images and Rodin Eckenroth / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Chapter descriptions:
00:00 Intro
00:13 What is a supporters group?
02:49 Guest introductions
05:06 What do supporters groups do?
08:02 Who are supporters groups for?
13:38 Growth & Tension
16:02 The need for a third space for fans
20:11 Is the NWSL doing enough to protect fans?
31:16 Outro

————

#nwsl #uswnt #wsl

————

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter to get all the latest women’s soccer news straight to your inbox every Tuesday: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/newsletters/full-time/

Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Catch the full episodes of Full Time right here 🎙️👇
➡️ https://apple.co/3RJUen2
➡️ https://spoti.fi/3W25Q77

Now PlayingPausedAd Playing

Source link

Minnesota

How to buy Minnesota Regional 2026 March Madness women’s tickets

Published

24 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

How to buy Minnesota Regional 2026 March Madness women’s tickets

The women’s NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed, and Minnesota fans can enjoy watching their team’s March Madness run begin at home.

Minnesota will be hosting an NCAA Tournament regional, playing up to two games on its home court during the first weekend of March Madness.

Minnesota is back in the big dance after last qualifying in 2018.

Shop Minnesota Regional women’s basketball tickets

Minnesota played well enough during the regular season to earn a No. 4 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and a top four seed in the Sacramento 2 region, and will host during the opening weekend of the tournament.

Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Minnesota women’s March Madness tickets.

Minnesota women’s March Madness opponent

Minnesota earned a No. 4 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region. It will take on No. 13 Green Bay in its opening game.

Minnesota women’s March Madness regional teams

Minnesota, along with Green Bay, No. 5 Ole Miss and No. 12 Gonzaga will play in Minneapolis for the first and second rounds of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Shop Minnesota Regional women’s basketball tickets

Minnesota women’s March Madness Regional basketball tickets

Limited Minnesota women’s regional NCAA Tournament tickets are still available. Get your Minnesota women’s March Madness tickets today as they start their NCAA Tournament on home court.

More March Madness: Everything fans need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament

Minnesota March Madness game schedule

Minnesota will take on Green Bay on Friday, March 20 . The game is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. ET. Shop Minnesota vs. Green Bay tickets now.

Shop Minnesota Regional women’s basketball tickets

Minnesota March Madness game locations

Minnesota will play its Round of 64 and potential Round of 32 games in Minneapolis .

Limited tickets for the first weekend of March Madness in the twin cities are available. Shop your Minnesota NCAA Tournament Tickets now.

Minnesota best NCAA Tournament result

Minnesota’s best result in the NCAA Tournament: Reached Final Four in 2004.

Source link

Minnesota

Bill introduced to repeal Cesar Chavez Day in Minnesota amid sexual abuse allegations

Published

2 days ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Bill introduced to repeal Cesar Chavez Day in Minnesota amid sexual abuse allegations

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota lawmakers have introduced a bill to repeal Cesar Chavez Day in the state after the civil rights leader was accused of sexual abuse.

Cesar Chavez Day could be repealed

What they’re saying:

Minnesota State Representative María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL-St. Paul) introduced the bill to repeal Cesar Chavez Day in the state.

She says the bill comes after a New York Times investigation shed light on sexual abuse and “predatory behavior” by Chavez against women and girls, including his co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, Dolores Huerta.

In the New York Times investigation, two other women came forward saying Chavez sexually abused them when they were minors.

READ MORE: Dolores Huerta issues statement amid César Chávez scandal: ‘My silence ends here’

“The pain and trauma survivors carry is a weight that can’t be erased by replacing signs and names on buildings or repealing this state holiday, but it’s a step forward for healing,” said Rep. Pérez-Vega. “The harm has been done; the only way forward is believing survivors, providing resources for their healing, and staying committed to the fight for every victim silenced by sexual assault.”

“The New York Times report yesterday was horrifying and deeply troubling,” said House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson. “We believe women who come forward in these difficult situations, and this is yet another example of men in a position of power taking advantage of women. We have a responsibility to hear these stories and act. House DFLers are prepared to move quickly to pass this legislation, and I’m grateful to Representative Pérez-Vega for bringing this bill forward.”

The other side:

The Minnesota House GOP say they are “absolutely in support of renaming Cesar Chavez Day” and look forward to passing the bill as soon as possible.

Are you or someone you know a recent survivor of sexual assault? Help is available. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) provides a 24/7 national sexual assault hotline, which can be reached at 1-800-656-4673

PoliticsMinnesota

Source link