Pesticide residues in drinking water

The emphasis that the FQPA placed on the assessment of pesticide residues in drinking water, for example, led to the collection and analysis of data on the effects of drinking water treatment processes on pesticide residues. These data were presented to the FIFRA Science Advisory Board to highlight the variability in the effects of treatment on different kinds of pesticides and the products formed and the variability of treatment processes employed at different locations and at different collection time intervals at an individual location. These complexities led to the current proposal... 

Ang, C., Meleady, K., Wallace L. (1989) Pesticide residues in drinking water in the north coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 42, 595-602. 

The perception of triazines as safe compounds was modified when a chronic study conducted in the mid-1980s showed effects of atrazine on mammary tumors in rats (WHO 1990). As a result, manufacturers introduced restricted personnel exposure levels. The discovery that atrazine was often present where pesticide residues in drinking water exceeded the newly defined European limit of 0.1 /ig/h for any active ingredient, and subsequent media reports and public discussions that made no distinction between detection and hazard, promoted a feeling of insecurity toward the formerly unchallenged products. The development reached a level of misinformation such that atrazine was occasionally chosen as an instrument to attempt suicide (Section III). A virtually unlimited level of tolerance was fortunately experienced in these unfortunate attempts. 

In the USA, the passage of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 has had a significant impact on the determination of residues in drinking water. FQPA requires that all sources of a pesticide be included in its risk assessment, so the potential exposure from drinking water containing a particular pesticide could be a significant... 

Several special sampling techniques should be mentioned. Many analyses are simplified by taking a sample from the vapor over the liquid sample. This procedure is known as headspace analysis.61 Another method known as purge-and-trap is used to concentrate a sample to improve detection limits. It is very popular in pesticide residue and drinking water analyses. 

Crescenzi et al. developed a multi-residue method for pesticides including propanil in drinking water, river water and groundwater based on SPE and LC/MS detection. The recoveries of the pesticides by this method were >80%. Santos etal. developed an on-line SPE method followed by LC/PAD and LC/MS detection in a simultaneous method for anilides and two degradation products (4-chloro-2-methylphenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol) of acidic herbicides in estuarine water samples. To determine the major degradation product of propanil, 3,4-dichloroaniline, the positive ion mode is needed for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI/MS) detection. The LOD of 3,4-dichloroaniline by APCI/MS was 0.1-0.02 ng mL for 50-mL water samples. 

We can see that the concentrations of both nitrate and nitrite in drinking water and vegetables are excessive. The accumulation of nitrate in food web of this biogeochemical province was accompanied with a high content of residual pesticides in soils of agroecosystems (Table 10). 

Ocean Data Evaluation System (ODES) Data Submissions Manual QA/QC Guidance for Sampling and Analysis of Sediments Water and Tissue for Dredged Material Evaluations Chemical Evaluations Quality Assurance Plan for the National Pesticide Survey of Drinking Water Wells Analytical Method 2, Chlorinated Pesticides Quality Assurance Project Plan for Analytical Control and Assessment Activities in the National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue... 

Quality Assurance Project Plan for Sample Collection Activities for a National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue Quality Assurance Project Plan for the National Pesticide Survey of Drinking Water Wells... 

Holland, J. and P. Sinclair. 2004. Environmental fate of pesticides and the consequences for residues in food and drinking water. In D. Hamilton and S. Crossley (eds), Pesticide Residues in Food and Drinking Water, pp. 27-62. New York Wiley. 

In the late 1970s HPLC provided an ideal tool for the analysis of pollutants and other environmental contaminants. Techniques were developed for analyzing chlorophenols, pesticide residues, and metabolites in drinking water and soil (parts per trillion) and trace organics in river water and marine sediments, and for monitoring industrial waste water and polynuclear aromatics in air. Techniques were also developed for determining fungicides and their decomposition products and herbicide metabolites in plants and animals. 

Pesticide Residues in Food and Drinking Water (2004), ISBN 0 471 48991 3. Edited by Denis Hamilton and Stephen Crossley... 

Determination of pesticides and fungicides in drinking water, residues in vegetables, salads and meat, vitamins in soft drinks and margarine, banned additives in Germany (e.g. sandalwood extract in fish and meat products), comphance with limit values (e.g. polycyclic compounds in drinking water, aflatoxins in milk and milk products). 

Furrer (18) states that "the detectable levels of trace quantities of some pesticide residues in some geographical areas "are generally far below those that may cause any adverse health effects". McCarty(20) states "Difficulty in demonstrating a cause-and-effeet relationship between drinking water and cancer is not sufficient cause to conclude that one does not exist. In the face of such uncertainties, prudence dictates that error should be on the side of caution."... 

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