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

WG on Water Framework Directive
SCHEER members: Marian Scott (Chair), Marco Vighi (Rapporteur), Teresa Borges, Raquel Duarte Davidson, Peter Hoet, Pim de Voogt
External experts: Thomas Backhaus, 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: 7-8 October 2021

Content of the Opinion:

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

The SCHEER endorses the MAC-QSfw,eco =0.23 μg L-1, and the AA-QSeco,fw =8.7 10-3 μg L-1 derived with a deterministic procedure. The SCHEER agrees with the decision of not performing the probabilistic approach due to the scarcity of data.

For saltwater, the SCHEER endorses the deterministic MACsw, eco of 0.023 μg L-1, and the AA-QSsw, eco of 8.7 10-4 μg L-1.

The SCHEER agrees that an EQS for sediments, as well as for secondary poisoning, is not necessary.

For human health, the SCHEER endorses a QSbiota,hh food = 120 mg kg-1 and the adoption of the general drinking water standard for pesticides (0.1 μg L-1).

Keywords:

herbicide, nicosulfuron, 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", nicosulfuron, 7-8 October 2021.