SCHEER - Scientific Opinion on "Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive" - Dicofol

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-SCHEERec [dot] europa [dot] eu (SANTE-SCHEER[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
On request from: European Commission
Adopted on: 24 January 2023

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

The current review of the dicofol dossier was carried out after comments of the SCHER in 2011 that indicated a need to reassess the QS_biota value in the light of the available literature. According to the dossier, only changes have been made to accommodate the original comments of the SCHER. This resulted in new values for QS_biota and QS_{biota sec pois} specifically for marine waters being recommended. The SCHEER agrees with this approach.

The SCHEER is of the opinion that the dicofol dossier should be updated taking into account available data on ecotoxicology taken from the pesticide dossier and from newly available data from the last ten years.

It is the opinion of the SCHEER that the procedures on secondary poisoning are properly applied. The SCHEER agrees that secondary poisoning is relevant for dicofol. The SCHEER is of the opinion that the procedures available for the derivation of QS_{biota, secpois, fw} are correctly applied. Therefore, the SCHEER endorses the values for QS_{biota, secpois, fw} of 110 μg kg _ww^-1 for fish and QS_{biota, secpois, sw} = 4.6 μg kg _ww ^-1 for fish, respectively.

For human health, the value of QS_{biota, hh}= 270 μg kg _biota^-1 is calculated, using the ADI of 0.0022 mg kg _bw ^-1 d^-1. The dossier calculates the QS_{water, hh, food} as 0.01 μg L^-1. The SCHEER endorses this conclusion.

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

The SCHEER is not able to advise yet on the most critical EQS because the dossier of dicofol should be updated.

Keywords:

Dicofol, 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 - dicofol, 24 January 2023.