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

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 “Esfenvalerate” is revised by the SCHEER according to the general mandate on EQS dossiers.

Without access to the primary reference used for some QSs the SCHEER is unable to evaluate the reliability of the data, and so cannot endorse the proposed numerical values.

The SCHEER cannot endorse the MAC-QS_fw,eco , the MAC-QS_sw,eco the AA-QS_eco,fw and the AA-QS_sw,eco , all derived with a deterministic procedure.

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 endorses the QS_{freshwater,sed} = 0.4 μg kg^-1 and the QS_{marinewater,sed} = 0.04 μg kg^-1 .

For secondary poisoning, it is the opinion of the SCHEER that several mistakes and inconsistencies are present in the calculation, based on energy normalised diet concentrations. Therefore, the SCHEER suggests to fully reconsider this section.

For human health, the value of QS_{biota, hh}= 2.1 mg kg^-1_biota is endorsed by the SCHEER. However, the SCHEER does not endorse the QS_{water, hh food}, because the BAF value used should be better supported.

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 esfenvalerate is a pyrethroid and therefore sorbs strongly to suspended particles also EQSs_water,total were determined. The SCHEER agrees with the procedure but cannot endorse the calculated values, given the reasons mentioned above.

Keywords:

pyrethroid, esfenvalerate, 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 - Esfenvalerate, 25 March 2022.