📋 Tender Overview
RIVM has set risk limits for surface water for 18 active substances in pesticides. Based on these risk limits the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management can set standards for water quality. For some of the substances there are indications that the existing standards do not protect the ecosystem enough. There is also no standard for some substances or the existing standard is outdated. If pesticide residues enter surface water it can be harmful to nature.Pesticides contain harmful substancesRIVM determines risk limits in the environment for many chemical substances. This study concerns 18 active substances in pesticides. These protect agricultural crops from weeds diseases or pests. Residues of these substances can enter surface water directly or through the soil. For example in water around agricultural land. If there is more of this substance in the surface water than the risk limit it can be harmful to nature.Some substances are difficult to measureFor 6 substances the new risk limit appears to be lower than the existing standard. The risk limit has been re-established for these substances because the method for this has been improved. More data on these substances are now also known. For the first time a risk limit has been set for 7 substances. More than half of the 18 substances are difficult to measure in surface water using standard analysis methods. The substance cannot then be tested against the standard although they can already be harmful in small quantities. Often low concentrations can be measured with an additional or more extensive analysis. For example by analyzing a larger amount of water.Some of these substances may need to be replacedThe European Union has designated a number of these 18 active substances as Candidate for Substitution. This means that the substance has a number of properties that are undesirable. These are so-called PBTpersistent bioaccumulative and toxicproperties which ensure that they remain in nature persistent accumulate there bioaccumulative and are toxic toxic. In Europe PBT substances should not be present as active substances in pesticides. Substances with a combination of 2 of these properties should be replaced by a safe alternative if possible.Risk limits are advisory valuesThe risk limits in this study are advisory values. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management IenWInfrastructure and Water Management can use them to set standards for surface water quality. These standards give water managers a first impression of whether they should be concerned about substances they find in their area.
