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ALTURA, Minn. (AP) - Five rivers in Minnesota are considered seriously polluted by pesticides and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is recommending that they be designated as "impaired," which usually means there is a risk to aquatic life, but not human health.
It's the first time the state has recommended that designation due to pesticides. In the past, rivers have been classified as impaired from mercury, bacteria, phosphorus and other pollutants.
The MPCA said the middle branch of the Whitewater River and sections of four other rivers in southern Minnesota contain acetochlor, used to control weeds for corn crops. The chemical has been measured in the rivers at various times between 1998 and 2005 at concentrations up to five times higher than the state limit for what's considered environmentally sound.
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