[Health-related evaluation of plant protective agents in drinking water]

Crop protection products are anthropogenous substances that should have no place in drinking water. Some of them are long-lived, can accumulate and are poorly biodegradable and many of them are not so harmless to human health as would be desirable or necessary. Accordingly, Federal German legislation provides for limit values of crop protection products close to the identification limit. Although it does not appear justified to close down waterworks effective 1 October 1989 if these limit values are exceeded, it must be carefully considered up to which concentration--depending on the individual substance--special permissions can be granted for a limited period of time. It seems that such concentrations should preferably be in accordance with general food legislation. Recommendations will be shortly issued by the Federal Health Ministry. The fact that special permissions are at all under consideration to prevent complete closing down of water supply reservoirs should sound a note of warning to all concerned, including crop protection product users and the relevant Government agencies issuing special permits.