Water contamination by pesticides: results of a national survey (1998-1999 data)

Abstract

Since 1998, in response to a request from the Minister of Environment, the French Institute for the Environment (IFEN) has carried out annual national surveys on pesticides in water. The three surveys conducted to date showed that pesticides are still being found in French rivers and groundwater in quantities that are often likely to cause environmental disturbance or to exceed authorised thresholds for drinking water production. Each year, the most frequently quantified substances are herbicides (triazines, including breakdown products), whether in surface water or in groundwater. The data is collected from pesticide monitoring network managers (Water Agencies, Regional Offices for the Environment, Departmental Offices for Health and Social Affairs, Regional Offices for Agriculture and Forestry...). The information system implemented to provide these surveys includes a database on water quality in relation to pesticides - SYSIPHE - that allows data to be compiled and processed. At the end of 2000, 700 000 pesticides analysis were collected in this database.