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"Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive" - Bifenthrin

Final Opinion

Description

SCHEER WG on Water Framework Directive
SCHEER members: Marian Scott (Chair), Marco Vighi (Rapporteur), Thomas Backhaus, Teresa Borges, Peter Hoet, Pim de Voogt, Rodica Mariana Ion
External experts: Andrew Johnson, Jan Linders
Contact:SANTE-C2-SCHEERatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (SANTE-C2-SCHEER[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
On request from: European Commission
Adopted on: 6 May 2022

The dossier on Environmental Quality Standards for “Bifenthrin” is reviewed by the SCHEER according to the general mandate on EQS dossiers.

The SCHEER accepts with reservations the MAC-QSfw,eco = 0.011 μg L-1 and the MAC-QSsw,eco = 0.0011 μg L-1 derived with a deterministic procedure. It is the opinion of the SCHEER that a more careful collection of data should be performed.

The SCHEER also accepts with reservations the deterministic AA-QSeco,fw = 0.095 ng L-1 and the AA-QSsw,eco = 0.0095 ng L-1.

For both MAC-QS and AA-QS, the SCHEER agrees, provisionally, with the decision of not performing the probabilistic approach due to the lack of sufficient information. However, it is the opinion of the SCHEER that the amount of reliable data should be carefully checked.

For sediment, the SCHEER confirms that the AA-QSfreswater-sed= 0.11 μg kg-1 and the AA-QSmarine water-sed= 0.021 μg kg-1 have been correctly calculated using the database in the dossier but strongly recommends that a more extensive data search should be undertaken to enhance the database.

For secondary poisoning, the QSbiota,secpois,fw of 0.045 mg kg-1 for fish and 0.013 mg kg-1 for bivalves, as well as the QSfw, biota for fish of 27 ng L-1, and the QSfw, biota for bivalves of 7.7 ng L-1 are endorsed by the SCHEER.

Due to the lack of an experimental BMF, the SCHEER does not endorse the QSsw, biota.

For human health, the value of QSbiota, hh= 1.8 mg kg-1biota and the QSwater, hh food = 1.1 μg L-1 are endorsed by the SCHEER.

For the exposure via drinking water, the SCHEER agrees with the adoption of the general drinking water standard for pesticides (QSdw,hh = 0.1 μg L-1).

Because bifenthrin is a highly hydrophobic pyrethroid and therefore sorbs strongly to suspended particles also EQSwater,total were determined. The SCHEER endorses the calculated values (total MAC-QSfw, eco = 0.015 μg L-1; total MAC-QSsw, eco = 0.0024 μg L-1; total AA-QSfw, eco= 13 x 10-5 μg L-1; total AA-QSsw, eco= 10 x 10-6 μg L-1; total QSBiota, sec pois, fw= 37 ng L-1).

The most critical EQS (in terms of impact on environment/health) has been identified as the AA-QSsw, eco = 0.0095 ng L-1.

The SCHEER supports the view expressed in the dossier of the need for cumulative EQS to be derived for pyrethroids.

Keywords:

pyrethroids, bifenthrin, Water Framework Directive, environmental quality standards

Opinion to be cited as:

SCHEER (Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks), Preliminary Opinion on Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive - Bifenthrin, 6 May 2022.

Files

11 JANUARY 2022
scheer_o_033.pdf
English
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