Pesticides found in central Florida lakes

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) -- U.S. government scientists said they have found pesticide-related compounds and elevated levels of nitrate in several central Florida lakes.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the compounds found in Florida's Lake Wales Ridge region include currently used pesticides.

"These findings support previous studies in this region that indicate a high potential for chemicals applied on the land to be carried with the water through sandy soils," Anne Choquette, lead author of the USGS study, said.

"This area is a major citrus producer for Florida and for the nation. The long-growing season means that pesticides are applied multiple times per year," Choquette said. "When you combine that with a wet climate, soils lacking in organic materials to help filter or break down substances and porous drinking-water aquifers, you have a water system that must be watched closely,"

Lakes in the area are not used for public drinking water and none of the samples exceeded federal or state drinking-water benchmarks for nitrate or pesticide concentrations, the researchers said.

More than 200 lakes are in Lake Wales Ridge in Florida's Polk and Highland counties.