Occurrence of pesticides in Dutch drinking water sources

Rosa M.A Sjerps,Pascal J.F Kooij,Arnaut Van Loon,Annemarie P Van Wezel

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.207

Rosa M.A Sjerps, Pascal J.F Kooij + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.207

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Abstract

We determined pesticide occurrence in groundwater and surface water sources used for drinking water production in The Netherlands, using both routine monitoring data from Dutch drinking water companies and by studying the presence of newly authorized pesticides in drinking water sources.An analytical LC-MS/MS method was developed for 24 recently authorized pesticides, selected based on their mobility and persistence, and applied in a Dutch/Belgian ground- and surface water monitoring campaign. 15 of these pesticides were detected, including seven in concentrations above the water quality standard from the Water Framework Directive. Two neonicotinoids were detected in highest concentrations: acetamiprid (1.1 μg/L) and thiamethoxam (0.4 μg/L).The routine monitoring data was collected over 2010–2014 in The Netherlands, covering 408 pesticides and 52 metabolites. 63 pesticides and 6 metabolites were prioritized according to their presence in groundwater, surface water and drinking water. The vast majority of the pesticides in routine monitoring has not been detected or only in low concentrations.Overall, the study shows that pesticides are of major concern in drinking water sources across the Netherlands. In two third of the abstraction areas pesticides and/or metabolites have been detected. In one third of the abstraction areas pesticide and/or metabolites concentration exceeded water quality standards according to the Water Framework Directive. The results emphasize that monitoring should focus on priority pesticides, since the vast majority of the pesticides has a low priority. The occurrence of recently authorized pesticides in drinking water sources demonstrates the importance to keep routine monitoring methods up to date.

Highlights

Pesticides are used widely in agriculture to protect crops from e.g. pathogens, fungi, insects and weeds
In groundwater, priority pesticides diuron, mecoprop, MCPA, atrazine, bentazone and priority metabolitesdesfenylchloridazon en DMS were detected by Loos et al (2010)
In this study the occurrence of pesticides in The Netherlands in groundwater and surface water used as drinking water sources was assessed

Summary

Introduction

Pesticides are used widely in agriculture to protect crops from e.g. pathogens, fungi, insects and weeds. Pesticides contain one or more active substances, that can enter surface waters by drift or agriculture runoff, or leach into groundwater (Gonzalez-Rodríguez et al, 2011; Heuvelink et al, 2010; van Eerdt et al, 2014). These emissions may form a risk for ecosystem or human health (Kim et al, 2017; Munz et al, 2017; Nienstedt et al, 2012; Shelton et al, 2014; Stehle and Schulz, 2015). Sjerps et al / Chemosphere 235 (2019) 510e518 and in Europe (Åkesson et al, 2015; Amalric et al, 2013; Ko€ckSchulmeyer et al, 2014; Loos et al, 2009, 2010; McManus et al, 2014; Schreiner et al, 2016; Stuart et al, 2012; Guillon et al, 2019)

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