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Elevated ecotoxicological risks through pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides

14. April 2022, Topic: Aquatic Ecotoxicology Risk Assessment

Elevated ecotoxicological risks through pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides

From March to October 2019, the amount of pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides was measured at 17 monitoring sites in small streams. This makes it possible to estimate for the first time the contamination by these insecticides throughout Switzerland. The insecticides were found in all monitored watercourses which belong to the NAWA (National Surface Water Quality Monitoring) monitoring network. Although the concentrations measured were mostly low and below 1 ng/l, they pose a significant risk to water organisms: Indeed, the ecotoxicological quality criteria for the substances were exceeded a total of 248 times. The results also show that only seven of the approximately 60 pesticides that are regularly measured at these sites are responsible for more than 60 % of the total risk to aquatic organisms.

Publication

Daouk, S., Doppler, T., Scheidegger, R., Kroll, A., Junghans, M., Moschet, C., & Singer, H. (2022). Insecticides dans les eaux de surface. Quels risques représentent les insecticides pyréthrinoïdes et organophosphorés en Suisse?Aqua & Gas102(4), 2-10. , Institutional Repository

 

Contact

Dr. Marion Junghans
Dr. Marion Junghans Send mail Tel. +41 58 765 5401

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