DRINKING-WATER - FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION ONLY - THE AMENDMENT OF DIRECTIVE-80 778/EEC PARAMETER-55 IN THE LIGHT OF AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY/

In the current debate on the amendment of the European Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) it is proposed that maximum admissible concentr ations for pesticides and related products intended for human consumpt ion shall be based on toxicological evidence. This paper compares limi t values for human drinking water, based on mammal toxicology with aqu atic toxicity data and water quality objectives for several pesticides proposed for the EC positive list. As aquatic organisms show higher s ensitivities to pesticides it is concluded that sustainable water mana gement practises require acknowledgement of ecotoxicological evidence.