1. 2nd Meeting „GW Watch List“ – Vienna 23rd-24th June 2016
Modified Groundwater Watch List Approach (DE)
Rüdiger Wolter
Section II 2.1/ General Aspects of Water and Soil (Groundwater Protection)
Peter von der Ohe, Nicole Adler
Section IV 2.2 / Pharmaceuticals
Michael Neumann
Section IV 2.3/ Chemicals

2. Preamble Protect before contaminants infiltrate groundwater
Our aim
Protect European ground waters before contamination is caused
Monitoring data
proves contamination, but then it is too late
Highly mobile (polar) substances
Difficult to analyse/detect (“blind spot”) and no monitoring data available
Protect before contaminants infiltrate groundwater
and can be detected via monitoring data.
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

3. Column I “Prioritisation via monitoring”
Some chemicals are already detected in the groundwater of several countries and at several sites
If sufficiently monitored, this may confirm a threat to the quality of European ground waters
No need to cause time delay or unnecessary monitoring activities via watch list process
Prioritisation via existing monitoring data is important for prioritisation of candidates for ANNEXES I or II.
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

4. Column II “Prioritisation via exposure assessment”
Persistent and mobile (polar) substances
Intrinsic substance properties enable them to reach ground water
In drinking water treatment “P” and “M” substances cause problems:
Not possible to degrade via ozone or UV
Not possible to filter via activated charcoal filter
Exposure assessment used to prioritise for watchlist process
Tonnages, category of uses, use pattern
If also toxic (PMT substance):
High concern for drinking water safety and to deteriorate groundwater status
Candidates for annex I or II
A prioritisation via intrinsic substance properties (“P”, “M” and “T”) and exposure assessment which is independent of existing monitoring data is needed.
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

5. Column III “Prioritisation via biological activity”
Some groups of chemicals have per se toxic properties
Hazard based prioritisation under ground water regulation
E.g. Pesticides* < 0.1 µg/L
Similar approach needed for
Hazardous chemicals of Annex VI CLP regulation (e.g. carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic (CMR) substances)
Endocrine disrupting chemicals
Pharmaceuticals
A prioritisation via Biological Active Substance properties for immediate inclusion in ANNEX I is needed
* Pesticides’ means plant protection products and biocidal products as defined in Article 2 of Directive 91/414/EEC and in Article 2
of Directive 98/8/EC, respectively.
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

6. Proposal for stepwise process
Column I: Prioritise chemicals that have sufficiently been detected:
in 1-3 EU countries for candidate dossiers for Annex 2
in >= 4 EU countries for candidate dossiers for Annex 1
Column II: Prioritise via exposure assessment (emissions and PM properties) for watch list process and PMT substances for candidate dossiers for Annex 1 or 2
Column III: Prioritise pharmaceuticals, hazardous substances and endocrine disrupting chemicals directly for Annex 1 (similar to pesticides*)
Risk assessment: select candidates for Annex 1 or 2
Stepwise approach uses all available information and avoids unnecessary assessment or monitoring
* Pesticides’ means plant protection products and biocidal products as defined in Article 2 of Directive 91/414/EEC and in Article 2 of Directive 98/8/EC, respectively.
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

7. Proposal for stepwise process
P (Dt 50) and M (Log KOC) criteria can be combined as GUS-Index
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

8. Example: “Prioritisation via monitoring data for Annex II”
exposure
assessment
III
Prioritisation
via
biological
activity
Persistent
and
Mobile (PM) or
polar
substance No No
EDTA
(complexing agent)
monitoring data
found in 1 PC
no. of sites 105
> LOQ
> 0.1 µg/l
physico-chemical data
Koc = 312 L/kg (calcul.)
log Kow = (calcul.)
DT50 = EDTA is not readily biodegradable under OECD conditions
Sufficient
monitoring
data ?
Biological
active
and or
hazardous
substance * / ?
Yes ?
Prioritisation
Yes Is
the
substance
Yes
toxic
? (PMT) No
Yes
Watchlist
Assistance for
member states
Risk
Assessment
Candidates
for
Annexes *
Exceptions
: Natural
substances ,
e.g.
vitamins ,
amino
acids ,
proteins .
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

9. Example: “Prioritisation via exposure assessment - watchlist”
Candidates
for
Annexes I
Prioritisation
via
monitoring
data * /
Biological
active
and or
hazardous
substance ?
Sufficient
Yes No
Watchlist Is
the
toxic
? (PMT) II
exposure
assessment
III
biological
activity
Persistent
Mobile (PM)
polar
Risk
Assessment
Assistance for
member states
Exceptions
: Natural
substances ,
e.g.
vitamins
amino
proteins .
acids
Gadolinium
(contrast agent)
monitoring data no
physico-chemical data
Koc = 13 L/kg (calcul.)
log Kow = 0.23 (calcul.)
DT50 = inert
eco-/toxicity data
not toxic
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

10. Example: “Prioritisation via exposure assessment (PMT)”
Candidates
for
Annexes I
Prioritisation
via
monitoring
data * /
Biological
active
and or
hazardous
substance ?
Sufficient
Yes No
Watchlist Is
the
toxic
? (PMT) II
exposure
assessment
III
biological
activity
Persistent
Mobile (PM)
polar
Risk
Assessment
Assistance for
member states
Exceptions
: Natural
substances ,
e.g.
vitamins
amino
proteins .
acids
Acesulfame
(artificial sweetener)
monitoring data
not sufficient
physico-chemical data
Koc = 20 L/kg (calcul.)
log Kow = (calcul.)
DT50 = not readily biodegradable
eco-/toxicity data
Cyanobacteria NOEC 2 µg/L
suspectet to be genotoxic
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

11. Example: “Prioritisation via biological/hazard assessment”
Candidates
for
Annexes I
Prioritisation
via
monitoring
data * /
Biological
active
and or
hazardous
substance ?
Sufficient
Yes No
Watchlist Is
the
toxic
? (PMT) II
exposure
assessment
III
biological
activity
Persistent
Mobile (PM)
polar
Risk
Assessment
Assistance for
member states
Exceptions
: Natural
substances ,
e.g.
vitamins
amino
proteins .
acids
5-Fluorouracil
(anti-cancer-drug)
monitoring data no
physico-chemical data
Koc = 9 L/kg (calcul.)
log Kow = (calcul.)
DT50 = biodegradable
eco-/toxicity data
carcinogenic (in mice)
mutagenic
Reprotoxic
2nd Meeting „Groundwater Watch List Process“ – Vienna 23rd-24th of June 2016

12. Thank you for your attention
/ Hier steht der Veranstaltungstitel in 12 Punkt