Pesticides and nitrate in groundwater and rainwater in The Province of Limburg in the Netherlands

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of high levels of pesticides in groundwater and rainwater in The Province of Limburg in The Netherlands. In groundwater samples in particular the presence of triazines - atrazine, simazine and propazine - was observed; besides these pesticides, dieldrin has also been observed. Atrazine and simazine were found to exceed the groundwater standard of 100 ng L-1. In the rainwater samples, the presence of 13 of 23 different analyzed pesticides was observed. A number of pesticides were found in high concentrations; e.g. atrazine (> 200 ng L-1). Two pesticides detected in rainwater (beta+gamma -HCH and atrazine) were found to exceed the groundwater standard. Seven pesticides in rainwater were found to exceed the target value and three pesticides the maximum tolerable risk value (DDT, heptachlor and heptachlorepoxide A), which are used as ecotoxicological standards in The Netherlands. Nitrate in 15 of 16 analyzed natural springs was found to exceed the guideline value for nitrate in drinking water of 50 mg L-1, up to levels of about 200 mg L-1. Nitrate concentrations in rainwater samples were observed up to 4.5 mg L-1. A risk analysis of exposure to high pesticide levels in groundwater or rainwater has been performed using the model HESP. For atrazine levels due to deposition of rainwater in two different locations, exceedance of the T.D.I. level of 0.5 mug kg(-1) day(-1) based on WHO criteria was observed for children using both an urban and a rural scenario and use of groundwater as drinking water.