English Abstract A preliminary ecotoxicological risk assessement of
pesticides in groundwater has been performed. Predictable environmental
concentrations in shallow groundwater, based on both calculations of
pesticide leaching and detected levels during monitoring programmes, have
been compared with aquatic ecotoxicity data. Among pesticides detected in
groundwater only the levels of aldicarb (including metabolites),
1,3-dichloropropene, and ethoprophos exceed risk boundaries. Among
pesticides of which calculations show that they can be expected in
concentrations of 0.1 mug/l or higher a much large number of substances
exceed risk boundaries. In particular, cypermethrin, 1,3-dichloropropene,
fenpropathrin, pendimethalin, pirimicarb, pirimiphos-methyl, propoxur,
terbufos, thiram, and trichlorphon have a large potential risk for
groundwater ecosystems.
