Pesticides in groundwater in Finland
The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) has been coordinating a screening survey of pesticides in groundwater since 2002. A total of 295 samples were collected from 189 aquifers during the years 2002-2005. The samples taken were mainly raw water from waterworks. Approximately 100 pesticides or metabolites were analyzed from the samples.
Number of samples analyzed and the concentration of pesticides or metabolites
| Number of |
Not detected |
Concentration
over detection
limit, but
under 0.1 μg/l |
Concentration
over 0.1 μg/l |
Total |
| Samples |
181 |
90 |
24 |
295 |
| Aquifers |
119 |
55 |
15 |
189 |
In the screening altogether 14 pesticides or metabolites were found in the groundwater. The most common pesticides or breakdown products, which occurred in concentrations over the threshold values set in the Drinking Water Directive, were atrazine, its metabolites DEA (desethylatrazine)) and DEDIA (desethyldesisopropyl atrazine) and BAM( 2,6-dicholorbenzamide). The concentrations were usually lower and the number of pesticides and metabolites found were fewer than the average in other European countries. The maximum concentration detected was 2.4 µg/l (BAM).
References
Vuorimaa Paula, Kontro Merja, Rapala Jarkko ja Gustafsson Juhani. 2007. Torjunta-aineiden esiintyminen pohjavedessä. Loppuraportti. Suomen ympäristö 42. Suomen ympäristökeskus.ISBN 978-952-11-2914-8,ISBN 978-952-11-2915-5 (PDF) (with English abstract)
Torjunta-aineiden esiintyminen pohjavedessä. Final report
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