Case Study 6 - Plant Protection Products (PPP) into nature areas

Atmospheric deposition of pesticides in nature conservation areas

National park Drentsche Aa in the Netherlands

Institution: RIVM

Case Study Coordinator: Joost Lahr

Objectives / Hypothesis

Assess the atmospheric deposition, contamination, and toxic pressure of chemicals transported into nature conservation areas.

Description of the Case Study

Case Study 6 assesses the impact of chemical transport on different nature conservation areas in the Netherlands, focusing on atmospheric deposition, contamination levels, and associated risks to soil invertebrates.

Case Study Goal

  • Exposure assessment: 

  • Chemical analysis of samples of soil, plants, flying insects and soil organisms from the selected nature conservation areas

  • Deployment of devices to measure wet and dry atmospheric deposition

Combined with existing toxicological data to assess cumulative risks (SSD, multi-substances potentially affected species fraction)

Species

Various plants, flying insects and soil organisms.

Photos from field work in SYBERAC Case Study 6 (Photos by RIVM)

Involved stakeholders

  1. Conservation area managers

  2. Concerned citizens

  3. Authorization Board for Plant Protection Products (Ctgb)

  4. Dutch Ministries with competence in agriculture, nature and water management

  5. Local and regional authorities

  6. Farmers and agricultural organisations

  7. Nature conservation NGOs

  8. Pesticide industry

Locations

Description:

  • Nature conservation areas across the Netherlands

  • Sampling stations at different downwind distances from agricultural sites

Learn more about the case study

Featured
Joost Lahr about changes in environmental risk assessment & future ecological challenges
Case Study 6
Joost Lahr about changes in environmental risk assessment & future ecological challenges
Case Study 6

Joost Lahr talks about how environmental risk assessment has changed over the years and why there should be assessments that integrate multiple protection goals. He further points out the contribution of the SYBERAC case studies and gives an outlook on critical areas of research for future challenges.

Case Study 6
Featured
SYBERAC’s 2025 Field Season
Case Study 1A, Case Study 1B, Case Study 2A, Case Study 2B, Case Study 3, Case Study 4A, Case Study 4B, Case Study 5, Case Study 6, WP2
SYBERAC’s 2025 Field Season
Case Study 1A, Case Study 1B, Case Study 2A, Case Study 2B, Case Study 3, Case Study 4A, Case Study 4B, Case Study 5, Case Study 6, WP2

SYBERAC’s 2025 field research season in summary with the latest updates from the project’s case studies.

Case Study 1A, Case Study 1B, Case Study 2A, Case Study 2B, Case Study 3, Case Study 4A, Case Study 4B, Case Study 5, Case Study 6, WP2
Stakeholder workshop – Atmospheric deposition of chemicals in Dutch nature conservation areas (CS6)
Case Study 6, WP1, WP2
Stakeholder workshop – Atmospheric deposition of chemicals in Dutch nature conservation areas (CS6)
Case Study 6, WP1, WP2

On 3 June 2024, RIVM hosted an online workshop for Case Study 6, focusing on the impact of pesticides and chemicals in Dutch nature conservation areas. Participants from environmental organizations and water boards discussed the potential underestimation of pollution effects, the need for more data on chemical presence, and the importance of including nature in risk assessments. The workshop concluded with a plan to involve relevant stakeholders in future efforts.

Case Study 6, WP1, WP2