Information about pesticides in the environment

Welcome!

Under the heading "Information on pesticides in the environment" we have collected information on pesticides, mainly plant protection products, and their spread in the environment. The information provided includes: history, facts, status in the environment, risk reduction as well as sampling and analyses.

There is an interactive tool that easily demonstrates the pesticides occurring in Swedish aquatic environments (vaxtskyddsmedel.slu.se (in Swedish only)). The tool collects the results of various investigations of pesticides per region (county and water district) and for all of Sweden, subdivided into water type (drinking water, groundwater, surface water, all waters). Diagram and tables illustrate the extent to which the relevant limits or guideline values are exceeded.

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Pesticides in a historical perspective

This section provides a short historical background to the use of pesticides and the debate it has aroused.

• Pesticides in a historical perspective
• Popular book provokes international debate
• Teckomatorp and hormoslyr arouse Swedish opinion
• Modern pesticides increase the risk to aquatic environments
• Countermeasures implemented but the use still great

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Facts on pesticides in the environment

This section contains material providing a general guide to pesticides (mainly crop protection products), their spread and processes affecting the ultimate fate of the pesticides in the environment. It also provides introductory information on the environmental effects in aquatic environments.

Overview of pesticides and their use

• What are pesticides?
• Chemical and biological pesticides
• Biological mechanism of action
• Areas of application - crop protection products and biocidal products

Pathways of pesticide spread in the environment

• Spread in the environment
• Gone with the wind
• From field to stream or groundwater
• Macropore flow - rapid passage of pesticides to groundwater
• Soil properties have an effect
• Small recesses in the soil can delay breakdown
• Biological breakdown most common
• Further facts: How biological breakdown occurs
• Pesticide properties affect the risk

Exposure and environmental impact

• Lack of knowledge about the impact on natural environments
• Examples of environmental impact in aquatic ecosystems
• Mixing substances can produce interactive effects
• Chronic effects emerge much later
• Indirect effects can be difficult to detect
• More knowledge needed on breakdown products in the environment

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Status of lakes and streams

This section provides a general picture of the environmental status in a risk perspective. It also summarizes relevant results from environmental monitoring and various regional investigations.

• Status of lakes and streams
• Pesticides found in the aquatic environment
• The risk pattern for aquatic organisms has changed
• New methods needed to capture biological effects
• Environmental monitoring of pesticides
• Results from regional measurements

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Sampling and analyses

This section provides advice and guidance for those planning to investigate which pesticides are present in surface waters or groundwater or those wishing to order pesticide analyses.

• Before sampling of pesticides in water
• Time of sampling important
• Avoid contamination of samples
• Analyse relevant compounds
• Analyse relevant levels
• Before ordering pesticide analyses
• Laboratories for analysis of pesticides