Overview

Organochlorine pesticides (OCP) are priority substances listed in Annex X of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD, Directive 2000/60/EC) for which environmental quality standards (EQS) have been set at EU level for inland waters as well as other surface waters to protect the aquatic environment against chemical pollution (Directive 2008/105/EC). With the exception of metals, the EQSs are expressed as total concentrations in the whole water sample. Furthermore, analytical methods used in WFD monitoring need to meet certain requirements as regards the minimum limit of quantification and the maximum tolerable measurement uncertainty (Directive 2009/90/EC). So far, there is no European-wide standardized method available for the determination of OCP in whole water samples fulfilling those requirements. Hence, the European Commission mandated CEN to develop or improve standards in support of the implementation of the monitoring requirements of WFD. Directive 2008/105/EC has been replaced by Directive 2013/39/EU; however, this standard has been developed for the analysis of OCP as listed in Annex A of Directive 2008/105/EC. The priority substances list in Annex X of the WFD includes various OCPs such as alachlor, endosulfan, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, pentachlorobenzene, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, isodrin, DDT and its metabolites. Annual average environmental quality standards (AA-EQS) values for individual OCP range from 0,000 5 μg/l to 0,3 μg/l and are defined for the concentration in the whole water sample, including suspended particulate matter (SPM) present in the sample. As long as compounds such as OCP, in particular the larger molecular weight ones, adsorb strongly to environmental solids, the fraction bound to particles may be substantial. Therefore it is important to be able to handle whole water samples within the analytical process. Identification and quantification of OCP at trace level concentrations often require both high sensitive chromatographic equipment and effective enrichment steps. This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of selected organochlorine pesticides (OCP) listed in Annex X of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD, Directive 2000/60/EC) in water samples. The method uses solid-phase extraction with SPE-disks followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It is applicable to the analysis of OCPs in surface water containing suspended particulate matter (SPM) up to 500 mg/l (whole water samples), drinking water and groundwater. The lower limit of the working range depends on the matrix, on the specific compound to be analyzed and on the sensitivity of the mass spectrometric detection unit. For compounds listed the limit of determination (LOQ) is at least 30 % of the corresponding AA-EQS value (0,000 15 μg/l to 0,1 μg/l) according to the requirements of the European Quality Standards Directive (Directive 2008/105/EC) for both inland surface waters and other surface waters. This method may be used for the analysis of other OCPs or other types of water. However, it is important to verify its applicability before use. This document has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 230 "Water analysis", the secretariat of which is held by DIN (Germany). The responsible German committee is Subcommittee NA 119-01-03-02 UA "Organische Verbindungen" ("Organic compounds") of Working Committee NA 119-01-03 AA "Wasseruntersuchung" ("Water examination") at DIN Standards Committee Water Practice (NAW).

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 119-01-03-02 UA - Organic compounds  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 230 - Water analysis