Pesticide monitoring

Pesticides are widely used in Switzerland and active ingredients can be detected in surface waters such as lakes or streams. Our research goal is to investigate the risks of single pesticides and especially of complex pesticide mixtures. For this purpose, in addition to mixture risk calculations, we also use various bioassays. Since the organisms examined react to the sum of the pesticide mixture, the total load of micropollutants can be displayed in the field or in the laboratory. If the organisms are sensitive to micropollutants, the effects of analytically uninvestigated micropollutants and active transformation products can also be displayed.

For example, in cooperation with Eawag and the Ecotox centre, in-depth investigations of pesticide contamination in surface waters were carried out using bioassays as part of the NAWA SPEZ measurement program.