Wet deposition of pesticides and nitrophenols at two sites in Denmark: measurements and contributions from regional sources

The concentrations of selected pesticides, of some of their degradation products and nitrophenols in rain were measured at two stations in Denmark in the period January 2000-July 2001. Forty compounds were quantified at least at one station during at least one sampling period. Additionally 17 compounds could be detected but not quantified, and 22 compounds could not be detected at all.

The highest depositions of pesticides were observed for pendimethalin and desethylterbuthylazine, which is a degradation product of terbuthylazine. The deposition of the nitrophenols 2,4-dinitrophenol, DNOC, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol was much higher than that of pesticides. The deposition of 2,4-dinitrophenol was e.g. up to a factor of 40 higher than that of pendimethalin.

Atrazine, chloridazon, 2,4-D, dieldrin, disulfoton, fenitrothion, isoproturon, lenacil, metazachlor and propachlor were found in precipitation, although these pesticides are not allowed in Denmark. It can therefore be concluded that they came from abroad and have been transported over at least 60-80 km.

For some of these compounds the transport distance is much longer.