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

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-SCHEERec [dot] europa [dot] eu (SANTE-C2-SCHEER[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
On request from: European Commission
Adopted on: 25 March 2022

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

The SCHEER endorses the MAC-QS_fw,eco = 0.0025 μg L^-1 and the MAC-QS_sw,eco = 0.00025 μg L^-1 derived with a deterministic procedure.

The SCHEER also endorses the deterministic AA-QS _fw,eco = 0.00027 μg L^-1 and the AAQS_{sw, eco} = 0.000027 μg L^-1.

For both MAC-QS and AA-QS, the SCHEER agrees 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 endorsed the QS_{freshwater,sed} = 0.002 mg kg^-1 and the QS_{marinewater,sed} = 0.0002 mg kg^-1.

For secondary poisoning, it is the opinion of the SCHEER that the BAF of 3300 L kg^-1 on fish instead of the BCF of 1900 L kg^-1 on molluscs should be used. Therefore, the QS_{biota,sec pois,fw} is not endorsed by the SCHEER.

A QS_{biota,hh, food} = 6.1 mg kg^-1 _biota is endorsed by the SCHEER.

However, the SCHEER does not endorse the QS_{water, hh food} because the same BCF used for secondary poisoning is used for the calculation. A QS_{water, hh food} =0.18 μg L^-1 is proposed.

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

Because permethrin is a pyrethroid and therefore sorbs strongly to suspended particles also EQSs_water,total were determined. The SCHEER endorses the results of the calculation (total MAC-QS_{fw, eco} = 0.0.0030 μg L^-1; total MAC-QS_{sw, eco} = 0.00026 μg L^-1; total AA-QS_{fw, eco}=00033 μg L^-1; total AA-QS_{sw, eco}= 2.80·10^-05 μg L^-1; total QS_{Biota, sec pois, fw}= 0.70 μg L^-1).

Keywords:

pyrethroid, permethrin, Water Framework Directive, environmental quality standards

Opinion to be cited as:

SCHEER (Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks), Final Opinion on Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive - Permethrin, 25 March 2022.