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Pesticides are used to prevent or control any pest causing harm for agricultural products (FAO 2002). Pesticide sales data in Europe show, that in the time period 2011 to 2016, pesticide sales had an amount of 400 000 tonnes per year (EEA 2018c). Despite the high amount of pesticide sales, only 0.4 % of all surface water bodies and 6.5 % of groundwater area fail good chemical status based on exceedances of pesticide standards according to the status assessments in the 2nd RBMP (Mohaupt,, Völker,, Altenburger,, Birk,, Kirst,, Kühnel,, Semeradova, et al., 2020). Based on WISE – Waterbase reporting data for European surface water monitoring stations suggest that in the time period 2007 to 2017, 5–15 % showed exceedances by herbicides and 3–8 % by insecticides. For groundwater, the percentages were about 7 % for herbicides and below 1 % for insecticides. Exceedances of fungicides seemed to be less prevalent for both surface waters and groundwater (Mohaupt,, Völker,, Altenburger,, Birk,, Kirst,, Kühnel,, Küster, et al., 2020). Atmospheric deposition plays a role as a diffuse source for water pollution with chemicals, such as mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). PAH emissions occur during all combustion processes involving organic materials such as wood, coal, or oil. Mercury is released into the atmosphere, mainly by coal combustion, spreading over great distances and wash-out with rain to soil and waters (BMU/UBA, 2016). It can lead to accumulation in biota, especially fish, which is a risk for fish-eating animals and a potential risk for human health, e.g. (Zupo, et al., 2019). In Europe, mercury from atmospheric deposition is the main reason for failing good chemical status in more than 30 % of all surface water bodies (EEA 2018b)).

Previous comments

  • molleing (Ingelise Møller Balling) 02 Feb 2021 14:23:57

    It is importantant to take into account which types of pesitcides that the member states have in the monitoring programmes before stating that the specific types not are found. If you aren't looking for it, you will not find it.

    In Denmark it is only in recent years that fungicides like triazols and other fungicides have been included in the pesticides monitoring program. It is found in the groundwater. Another fungicide, the decradation product N,N'-Dimethylsulphamide from Tolylfluanide or Dichlofluanide aslo used as biocide, has over the latest years turned out to be a huge problem in the Danish public water supply as it has been found in a large numbers of wells.

    You can consult the most recent Groundwater monitoring report at https://www.geus.dk/Media/2/1/Grundvandsoverv%C3%A5gning%201989-2019.pdf

    and the most recent report from the Danish Pesticide Leaching Assessment Programme http://pesticidvarsling.dk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Danish-Pesticide-Leaching-Assessment-Programme-2019-.pdf

  • kottemar (Marcel Kotte) 04 Feb 2021 14:19:53

    Please bear in mind the assessment criteria of WFD is based on year average numbers. Meaning that some pesticides look like they do not exceed the EQS. This is only because member states measure the substances not only in its period of use but also without leading to lower year averages. Besides memberstates could also only be measuring pesticides once every month, or even once every quarter of the year.

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