The diagnosis of the risk of pesticides transfer in superficial waters: the bases and the implementation of the method developed in Bretagne Region (France)

Abstract

The presence of pesticides in the rivers of the Bretagne Region (France) has been underlined at the beginning of the nineties by the CORPEP works. This pollution turned out to be persistent and likely to reach high levels, especially for a few herbicides used on field crops (atrazine and isoproturon). As the CORPEN developed a plot scale method to minimize the transfer risk of pesticides in water, the CORPEP finalized a specific method intended to the watersheds of the "Bretagne Eau Pure" program, but with the same purpose. The two methods, however, have the same scientific basis. The CORPEP method is specific to the region, in relation to its hydrological and geological characteristics, and the large area of its application. The construction of the CORPEP method and the factors selection are explained. The implementation of the diagnosis is described and a progress report of the method in Bretagne region is given.