ICPR – International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine

211. Seasonal pollution of the Rhine with plant protection agents Isoproturone wave 2011

At times of cultivation of fields for winter cereals, distinctly detectable isoproturone and chlorotolurone pollutions of the Rhine occur, when application periods of the herbicides are followed by days with heavy rainfall. This also applies to the cultivation of fields for summer cereals in springtime. The discharges of isoproturone and chlorotolurone observed for several years and which also are an issue of several ICPR technical reports still attain a comparatively high level. The conclusions of the several ICPR technical reports are:

- Rules and regulations for plant protection agents exist in all Rhine bordering countries.

- It is expected that the measures decided will contribute to reduce both substances to a restricted extent.

Both these conclusions continue to apply.

Furthermore, the report no. 211 states that laws and regulations must still be implemented and that, if no further reduction measures are taken, it is to be assumed that, in future, larger amounts of herbicides will continue to reach the waters in the Rhine catchment and thus flow into the North Sea.

Report only available in <link file:4296 _blank>German, <link file:699 _blank download den einer>French and <link file:699 _blank download den einer>Dutch.