Case Study 6 - Plant Protection Products (PPP) into nature areas

Atmospheric deposition of pesticides in nature conservation areas

National park Drentsche Aa in the Netherlands

Institutions: RIVM

Case Study Coordinators: Joost Lahr

Objectives / Hypothesis

Assess the atmospheric deposition, contamination, and toxic pressure of chemicals transported into nature conservation areas.

Description of the Case Study

Case Study 6 assesses the impact of chemical transport on different nature conservation areas in the Netherlands, focusing on atmospheric deposition, contamination levels, and associated risks to soil invertebrates.

Case Study Goal

  • Exposure assessment: 

  • Chemical analysis of samples of soil, plants, flying insects and soil organisms from the selected nature conservation areas

  • Deployment of devices to measure wet and dry atmospheric deposition

Combined with existing toxicological data to assess cumulative risks (SSD, multi-substances potentially affected species fraction)

Species

To be determined

Involved stakeholders

  1. Conservation area managers

  2. Concerned citizens

  3. Authorization Board for Plant Protection Products (Ctgb)

  4. Dutch Ministries with competence in agriculture, nature and water management

  5. Local and regional authorities

  6. Farmers and agricultural organisations

  7. Nature conservation NGOs

  8. Pesticide industry

Locations

Description:

  • Nature conservation areas across the Netherlands

  • Sampling stations at different downwind distances from agricultural sites