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3.7. Contamination from agriculture
The aim of pesticides and biocides is to have a harmful effect at the point of use, protecting crops and ensuring food security. However, owing to direct application into the environment, effects on organisms can occur beyond the intended target.
Data reflecting actual emissions of pesticides are often few, despite widespread use. This partly reflects many diffuse sources, for which reporting is in any case weak, and also owes to the way that water and pesticides legislation affects reporting at the European level (Box 3.4). For this reason, trends in pesticide sales have be taken as a proxy for emissions, though this must be seen as indicative and provides little geographic information.
EU sales statistics were relatively stable between 2011 - 2014, with 360 000 - 400 000 t sold per year (Eurostat, 2018). The group with the highest sales were fungicides and bactericides (about 43%), followed by herbicides (35%) and insecticides (5%).
Table 3.1d Contamination mainly from agriculture
(b) defined as priority hazardous substances, for which all discharges, emissions and losses must be ceased.
This section starts with insecticides, then considers herbicides. Fungicides and bactericides do not appear high up in the lists of most frequently reported pesticides (table 3.1).
3.7.1. Insecticides
Eleven Member States reported hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) exceeding the EQS (table 3.1). Two other insecticides – parathion and malathion, regulated as RBSPs – were reported by four Member States. Otherwise no other insecticides were reported as causing failure in four or more Member States.
Hexachlorocyclohexane
Sources and uses
In the priority substances list, HCH represents a group of several, similar molecules. Lindane – gamma-HCH - is the most well-known substance in the group. It was extensively produced in the EU from the 1950s, and used as a broad-spectrum insecticide until the 1970s - 1990s. Production led to large amounts of HCH-contaminated waste. Production sites were located near rivers and so there are many HCH contaminated spots beside rivers (i.e. Sabiñánigo and Vitoria sites next to the Ebro river).
Hexachlorocyclohexane is relatively long-lived in the environment, is highly volatile and can be transported over long distances through natural processes. It has been listed under the Stockholm Convention since 2009.
Toxicity and EQS
HCH is carcinogenic, persistent, toxic and can bio-accumulate in food chains. The aim of the EQS is to protect top predators such as otters and cormorants, which are at risk owing to bioaccumulation.
WFD status
Despite restrictions on use for several years, HCH caused failures in 10 countries and over 100 surface water bodies. This reflects the persistence of the substance and some continued use. However, despite its volatility, in contrast to mercury it is not reported as causing many failures in northern countries.
Emissions
Figure 3.11 gives an overview of the different reported loads.
Figure 3.11 : Hexachlorocyclohexane !!!
Notes: !!! – CAUTION – low confidence in data, as limited reporting of this substance, see Table 3.2. Details on the emissions data are given in Annex A.
Few Member States report loads of HCH from industry and UWWTPs, and there is inconsistency between reports. Those reported under E-PRTR suggest a decreasing trend, but are skewed by high loads in the chemical industry and energy sector reported by a single country, even though many uses have been restricted. There was very limited reporting on diffuse sources like atmospheric deposition and stormwater overflows.
No overview of the total emissions to water in Europe can be made, because only a few Member States have reported emissions. It is unclear whether this arises because of low emissions or because of low levels of reporting.
Summary/Outlook
Restrictions on the use of HCH suggest that over time, failures to achieve good chemical status owing to this insecticide should decrease.
Parathion and malathion
Both parathion and malathion are organophosphorus-compounds and inhibit acetylcholine esterase (AChE; further description in table 2.1). Studies with the plankton, Daphnia, showed that long term exposure to low concentrations was harmful (UBA, 2011).
Parathion and marathion are regulated as RBSP by several Member States and exceeded EQS in only a few water bodies.
No reliable figures on emissions of parathion and malathion are available.
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Previous comments
DE-NW:
'Reporting of status is inaccurate, owing to monitoring not reflecting situation during peak periods of pesticide use.'
From our point of view the third answer is the correct answer for most substances...
DE-SH:
'
'But, from the reporting, we cannot be sure which of these apply.'
The monitoring is limited, however from detailed studies we know that all water bodies are effected by pesticides. The spear index shows for Schleswig-Holstein, that nearly all water bodes are affected. Maybe thiscould be an additional box to the text; the graph can be provided.
DE-UBA IV 1.2:
First paragraph
a) Why is the section adressing the pesticides restricted to the contamination from agriculture? We do not know anything about the impact of pesticides used as biocides. Unfortunately, there is only limited information on consumption and sales data of biocides.
b) To explain the definition of biocidal active substance and biocodal products after BPR (EU) 528/2012:
Biocidal active substances are substances or a micro-organisms that have an action on or against harmful organisms. A biocidal product is any substance or mixture, in the form in which it is supplied to the user, consisting of, containing or generating one or more active substances, with the intention of destroying, deterring, rendering harmless, preventing the action of, or otherwise exerting a controlling effect on, any harmful organism by any means other than mere physical or mechanical action.
It is as well any substance or mixture, generated from substances or mixtures which do not themselves fall under the first indent, to be used with the intention of destroying, deterring, rendering harmless, preventing the action of, or otherwise exerting a controlling effect on, any harmful organism by any means other than mere physical or mechanical action.
A treated article that has a primary biocidal function shall be considered a biocidal product.
c) Not only direct application in the environment leads to emissions of biocides into the environment. Also indirect emission pathways can occur (e.g. through runoff from soil treated with slurry or sludge that can be polluted with biocides or through WWTP).
DE-UBA IV 1.2:
Table 3.1d:
As mentioned above: Isoproturon is also used as biocide.
DE-UBA:
'In the priority substances list, HCH represents a group of several, similar molecules. Lindane – gamma-HCH - is the most well-known substance in the group.'
Please consider changing 'similar' to 'isomeric' and 'substance' to 'active substance'.
'Hexachlorocyclohexane is relatively long-lived in the environment'
Please use the commonly accepted adjective 'persistent' instead of 'long-lived'.
DE-UBA:
'In the priority substances list, HCH represents a group of several, similar molecules. Lindane – gamma-HCH - is the most well-known substance in the group.'
Please consider changing 'similar' to 'isomeric' and 'substance' to 'active substance'.
'Hexachlorocyclohexane is relatively long-lived in the environment'
Please use the commonly accepted adjective 'persistent' instead of 'long-lived'.
DE-UBA:
'In the priority substances list, HCH represents a group of several, similar molecules. Lindane – gamma-HCH - is the most well-known substance in the group.'
Please consider changing 'similar' to 'isomeric' and 'substance' to 'active substance'.
'Hexachlorocyclohexane is relatively long-lived in the environment'
Please use the commonly accepted adjective 'persistent' instead of 'long-lived'.
DE-UBA:
'In the priority substances list, HCH represents a group of several, similar molecules. Lindane – gamma-HCH - is the most well-known substance in the group.'
Please consider changing 'similar' to 'isomeric' and 'substance' to 'active substance'.
'Hexachlorocyclohexane is relatively long-lived in the environment'
Please use the commonly accepted adjective 'persistent' instead of 'long-lived'.
DE-UBA:
'In the priority substances list, HCH represents a group of several, similar molecules. Lindane – gamma-HCH - is the most well-known substance in the group.'
Please consider changing 'similar' to 'isomeric' and 'substance' to 'active substance'.
'Hexachlorocyclohexane is relatively long-lived in the environment'
Please use the commonly accepted adjective 'persistent' instead of 'long-lived'.
DE-UBA:
'Parathion and marathion are regulated as RBSP by several Member States and exceeded EQS in only a few water bodies.'
Typo it should be malathion