Agro-environmental indicators on pesticide pollution of water
Eurostat data (2013)
_in_groundwater_monitoring_stations,_2010-2011.png)
|
Several countries in Europe report that groundwater has concentrations of pesticides that exceed the quality standards. Across this European dataset, about 7 % of the groundwater stations reported excessive levels for one or more pesticides. Atrazine and its metabolite Desethylatrazine are the pesticides most frequently detected above the quality standard throughout Europe. Groundwater at risk appears to be located in areas used intensively for agriculture.
At all river monitoring stations the average annual concentrations of Alachlor and Atrazine were below EQS. For the rest of the pesticides monitored, except the Cyclodiene-group and Endosulfan, the EQS was exceeded at less than 5 % of the river monitoring stations. The EQS for the Cyclodiene-group was exceeded in 43 % of the measured rivers. The Endosulfan EQS was exceeded in 35 % of the river monitoring stations. |
Agriculture is considered as the greatest contributor to pesticides in European surface and groundwater. Even though groundwater and surface water are used as a drinking water resource, there is limited information available on pesticide contamination, and a lack of reliable and comparable data. Monitoring of pesticides is a challenging task because of the high number of registered pesticides, cost of analyses, and the need for sampling to be performed during periods of application and use, and under various weather conditions. Extensive data sets of high quality are consequently often missing. The data used for this indicator were limited, both in time and space, and the need for harmonisation is apparent. This indicator is still a subject for development.
Pesticides in groundwater
Elevated concentrations of selected pesticides above the EQS (0.1 μg/l, except for the selected cyclodiene pesticides (Aldrin, Dieldrin) with EQS of 0.03 μg/l) occurred at approximately 7 % (517 stations) of the 7669 monitoring stations reported for the 2010-2011 period (Figure 1 and Map1). At 60 % (4596) of the stations none of the assessed pesticides had concentrations above the limit of quantification. At least one of the assessed pesticides was found, but not at concentrations above the EQS at 33 % (2556) of the stations. Occurrence and exceedance of the quality standard by at least one of the assessed pesticides in the monitoring station is indicated by yellow and red colours respectively in Map 1. Concentrations exceeding the regulatory level are generally detected in groundwater underlying areas of intensive agriculture. Atrazine, its metabolite Desethylatrazine and also Simazine are the pesticides most frequently detected above the regulatory value throughout Europe. In this factsheet, data for 2,4-D, Alachlor[1], Aldrin[2], Alpha-Endosulfan[3], Alpha-HCH, Atrazine[4], Bentazone, Beta-HCH, Chlorfenvinphos[5], Chlorpyrifos, DDD p,p', DDE p,p', DDT o,p', DDT p,p'[6], Desethylatrazine, Desisopropylatrazine, Dieldrin[7], Diuron, Endrin[8], Gamma-HCH[9], Isodrin[10], Isoproturon, Linuron, MCPA, Mecoprop, Prometryn, Propazine, Simazine[11], Terbuthylazine, Terbutryn and Trifluralin[12] were reported. Maximum concentrations of these individual pesticides detected in groundwater monitoring stations in 2010-2011 are shown in Figure 2.
Pesticides in rivers
Average annual concentrations of Alachlor and Atrazine were below the EQS at all stations in 2009 (Figure 3). Trend analyses of Atrazine showed that the annual average concentrations have been below EQS in several countries since 2006, even in countries like France and Belgium known for intensive agricultural production (Figure 4). For the rest of the pesticides monitored, except the Cyclodiene-group and Endosulfan, EQS were exceeded at less than 5 % of the stations (Figure 3). The EQS for the Cyclodiene-group measured as the sum of Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, and Isodrine was exceeded at 43 % of the river monitoring stations. The EQS for Endosulfan was exceeded in 35 % of monitored rivers. Map 2 shows the exceedance of Chlorfenvinphos, Chlorpyrifos, Cyclodiene, Diuron, Isoproturon and Trifluralin in some countries in 2009. No countries had observations of exceedance for all these six pesticides monitored.
Pesticides in groundwater
Elevated concentrations of selected pesticides above the EQS (0.1 μg/l, except for the selected cyclodiene pesticides (Aldrin, Dieldrin) with EQS of 0.03 μg/l) occurred at approximately 7 % (517 stations) of the 7669 monitoring stations reported for the 2010-2011 period (Figure 1 and Map1). At 60 % (4596) of the stations none of the assessed pesticides had concentrations above the limit of quantification. At least one of the assessed pesticides was found, but not at concentrations above the EQS at 33 % (2556) of the stations. Occurrence and exceedance of the quality standard by at least one of the assessed pesticides in the monitoring station is indicated by yellow and red colours respectively in Map 1. Concentrations exceeding the regulatory level are generally detected in groundwater underlying areas of intensive agriculture. Atrazine, its metabolite Desethylatrazine and also Simazine are the pesticides most frequently detected above the regulatory value throughout Europe. In this factsheet, data for 2,4-D, Alachlor[1], Aldrin[2], Alpha-Endosulfan[3], Alpha-HCH, Atrazine[4], Bentazone, Beta-HCH, Chlorfenvinphos[5], Chlorpyrifos, DDD p,p', DDE p,p', DDT o,p', DDT p,p'[6], Desethylatrazine, Desisopropylatrazine, Dieldrin[7], Diuron, Endrin[8], Gamma-HCH[9], Isodrin[10], Isoproturon, Linuron, MCPA, Mecoprop, Prometryn, Propazine, Simazine[11], Terbuthylazine, Terbutryn and Trifluralin[12] were reported. Maximum concentrations of these individual pesticides detected in groundwater monitoring stations in 2010-2011 are shown in Figure 2.
Pesticides in rivers
Average annual concentrations of Alachlor and Atrazine were below the EQS at all stations in 2009 (Figure 3). Trend analyses of Atrazine showed that the annual average concentrations have been below EQS in several countries since 2006, even in countries like France and Belgium known for intensive agricultural production (Figure 4). For the rest of the pesticides monitored, except the Cyclodiene-group and Endosulfan, EQS were exceeded at less than 5 % of the stations (Figure 3). The EQS for the Cyclodiene-group measured as the sum of Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, and Isodrine was exceeded at 43 % of the river monitoring stations. The EQS for Endosulfan was exceeded in 35 % of monitored rivers. Map 2 shows the exceedance of Chlorfenvinphos, Chlorpyrifos, Cyclodiene, Diuron, Isoproturon and Trifluralin in some countries in 2009. No countries had observations of exceedance for all these six pesticides monitored.
Agri-environemental indicator - consumption of pesticides
(2012 data)
|
The consumption of pesticides (here plant protection products, excluding biocides and disinfectant products) in agriculture is indicated by both the applied rates by the farmers and the amounts sold and is measured by the following indicators:
Main indicator:
|
Assessment
Fungicides remained the most sold pesticide when counted in active ingredients. In 2000 the sales of fungicides were highest in France with fifty-three thousand tonnes of active ingredients, by 2005 the sales of fungicides in France were however reduced with 32 % to thirty-six thousand tonnes of active ingredients. France also noted the highest reduction in fungicides sales between 2000 and 2005. In 2005 the sales of fungicides were with fifty-four thousand tonnes of a.i. highest in Italy, the sales of fungicides remained rather stable between 2000 and 2005 in Italy. In 2005 the sales of herbicides were highest in France with twenty-nine thousand tonnes of a.i. followed by Germany with fifteen thousand tonnes of a.i, this was a 5 % decrease in comparison to 2000 for France and 12 % for Germany. The largest absolute increase between 2000 and 2005 occurred in Poland where sales increased from five to eight thousand tonnes. In 2000 the sales of insecticides were highest in Spain with ten thousand of tonnes of a.i. followed by Italy with seven thousand tonnes of a.i. The largest absolute reduction between 2000 and 2005 occurred in Italy where sales decreased from seven to four thousand tonnes. |
Regulatory framework
|
TOPPS is most closely associated with:
- The Water Framework Directive - WFD (Directive 2000/60/EC) - The Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (Directive 2009/128/EC). Key aspects of the WFD include:
- Art 4 establishing environmental objectives - Art 7 on waters used for the abstraction of drinking water - Art 11 on the Program of Measures (PoM) which Member States are required to establish at Member State level. |
|
- Art16 on strategies against pollution of water by "priority substances" identified at the EU level, and compliance with related Environmental Quality Standards (EQS)
- Art 17 on strategies to prevent and control pollution of groundwater.
- Art 17 on strategies to prevent and control pollution of groundwater.
