Report from the Sub-comittee on the environment and health

higher as agricultural use. This is supported by <strong>the</strong> available data on
pesticide finds in groundwater near ground level in <strong>the</strong> LOOP areas, where
only agricultural land with known cultivation practice is monitored. There,
high find percentages are found, particularly in <strong>the</strong> case of triazines’
metabolites (Table 4.8).
4.1.2 Conclusions
In Denmark, extensive data are available on <strong>the</strong> distribution and
occurrence of <strong>the</strong> 8 GRUMO pesticides in Danish groundwater. A smaller
database covers o<strong>the</strong>r pesticides and metabolites. Toge<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>se data
show that pesticides and metabolites occur particularly in <strong>the</strong> uppermost
and youngest aquifers. In <strong>the</strong>se aquifers, pesticides have been found in
34% of analysed screens in an expanded analytical programme in <strong>the</strong>
interval 0-10 metres below ground level. A planned future expansion of <strong>the</strong>
monitoring system and <strong>the</strong> water companies’ expanded analytical
programme (covering more substances) will show <strong>the</strong> extent to which
groundwater near <strong>the</strong> surface contains pesticides and metabolites. The
frequency of finds of metabolites <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> now banned substances atrazine
and dichlobenil is high both in <strong>the</strong> groundwater monitoring system and in
<strong>the</strong> water companies’ raw-water monitoring. It should be noted that <strong>the</strong>
water companies’ raw water often comes <strong>from</strong> wells in areas near towns,
so <strong>the</strong> finds are characterised by non-agricultural use of pesticides.
The following specific conclusions can be drawn:
• One or more of <strong>the</strong> 8 GRUMO pesticides (dichlorprop, mechlorprop,
MCPA, 2,4-D, dinoseb, DNOC, atrazine and simazine), have been
found in just over 12% of <strong>the</strong> analysed 1,014 screens in <strong>the</strong> groundwater
monitoring areas. The limit value is exceeded in 3.5%. In 42 screens, a
pesticide has been found more than once, corresponding to just over 4%
of <strong>the</strong> analysed screens.
• In 594 GRUMO screens analysed with expanded analytical
programmes, pesticides or metabolites have been found in 21% and <strong>the</strong>
limit value has been exceeded in 13%. With BAM omitted, pesticides
have been found in approx. 16% of 551 screens analysed for more than
<strong>the</strong> 8 GRUMO pesticides.
• The depth distribution in <strong>the</strong> groundwater monitoring areas shows that
<strong>the</strong> 8 GRUMO pesticides occur in 22% of <strong>the</strong> groundwater near <strong>the</strong>
surface and that <strong>the</strong> frequency decreases with <strong>the</strong> depth. Where screens
have been analysed for more substances than <strong>the</strong> 8 GRUMO pesticides,
pesticides have been found in 34% of <strong>the</strong> groundwater near <strong>the</strong> surface.
Of <strong>the</strong>se finds, 23% are equal to or greater than 0.1 microgramme per
litre.
• In a number of expanded analytical programmes, about 40 pesticides
and metabolites are at present found in groundwater, with 29 of <strong>the</strong>m in
concentrations above <strong>the</strong> limit value. In foreign monitoring
programmes, 159 substances that have been or are still being used in
Denmark have been detected.
• In <strong>the</strong> water companies’ raw water monitoring, pesticides have been
found in 17% of <strong>the</strong> wells tested, with <strong>the</strong> limit value exceeded in 6%.
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