Leipzig. Experts from 20 countries have called for the guidance documents for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) to be updated. The consensus among the scientists and stakeholders who discussed risks for European rivers at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in November was that the Directive is a good start, but it needs to be taken further. The experts can already see that the target of reaching good ecological status for all natural waters by the year 2015 cannot be achieved. In their view, however, the answer is not to reduce the quality standards, but to reappraise the instruments for implementing the Water Framework Directive.
The researchers are expecting the rise in biomass production to lead to an increase in the use of crop protectants, which will cause pesticide levels to go up again as well. "Increased cultivation of energy crops will have a negative impact on rivers," fears Dr Peter von der Ohe of the UFZ. So despite all the progress of recent years, the Water Framework Directive will still be needed in future and must respond to current developments.
In the scientists view, the choice of harmful substances to be monitored in rivers throughout Europe is a weak point of the existing Directive. "This priority list, which currently contains 41 substances, is not adequate for explaining the impacts of chemicals in rivers," says Dr Werner Brack, who is in charge of the MODELKEY EU research project, which is investigating key chemicals in three model European rivers. He feels that these 41 chemicals represent a tiny proportion of chemical pollution and are often substances that have been measured for a long time, but which, in some cases, are playing an increasingly limited role. "For instance, the insecticide DDT is on the list even though it was banned in most Western industrialised nations as far back as the 1970s and is therefore no longer used. From our point of view, it would be
'/>"/>
| Contact: Dr. Werner Brack 49-341-235-1531 Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Gender, coupled with diabetes, affects vascular disease development
2. New target for anti-flu drug development
3. Selexis Announces Advanced Approach to Maximize Power of Genetic Elements for Rapid Development of High Performance Cell Lines
4. KAUST and American University in Cairo to collaborate on research and academic development
5. Old developmental pathways spawn revolutionary evolutionary changes
6. NIST announces 56 new awards for innovative technology research and development
7. Progress Against Malaria: Developments on the Horizon
8. Flu vaccine in painless skin patches under development at Emory, Georgia Tech with NIH grants
9. Biopharmaceutical infrastructure key to lower drug development costs
10. Study identifies pathway required for normal reproductive development
11. 200 journals join in theme issues on poverty and human development
 |
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |