15 new chemicals to be monitored in EU water

The directive on priority substances in the field of water quality is to be revised to include 15 more chemicals on the list of 33 pollutants that are monitored and controlled in EU surface waters.

Substances used in biocides, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products will now be closely monitored, as well as industrial chemicals.

Plant protection substances Aclonifen, Bifenox, Cypermethrin, Dicofol, Heptachlor, Quinoxyfen will now be monitored as a step to improving the quality of water in EU countries.

As well as this, substances used in biocidal products such as Cybutryne, Dichlorvos, Terbutryn will be monitored, industrial chemicals Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), combustion by-products and Pharmaceutical substances will be added to the list.

Environment commissioner Janez Potocnik said: “Water pollution is one of the environmental worries most frequently cited by EU citizens. I welcome this advance as it is clearly answering people’s expectations. These 15 additional chemicals need to be monitored and controlled to ensure they don’t pose a risk to the environment or human health.”

Agriculture and new industries remain the major challenge to clean water in the EU. Nitrate concentrations in rivers remain high and there have been several indications that man-made chemicals are effecting even the most remote bodies of water.

Posted by Joseph Hutton