Case Study 6 - Pesticides in conservation 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 aims to assess the impact of chemical transport on different nature conservation areas in the Netherlands, focusing on atmospheric deposition, contamination levels in soil and oak leaves, and associated mixture risks to soil invertebrates.

Case Study Goal

  • Exposure assessment: 

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

  • Deployment of devices in nature areas to measure bulk (wet and dry) atmospheric deposition

Risk assessment:

Concentrations of detected pesticides in soil are to be combined with existing eco toxicological data to assess risks of mixture effects (SSD’s = species sensitivity distributions, and msPAF = multi-substances potentially affected species fraction of species


Species

Oak leaves and soil organisms.

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

Involved stakeholders

The following groups are intended to be involved in the communication and implementation of Case Study 6:

  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:

  • Three nature conservation areas across the Netherlands:

    • Dwingelderveld (in the northern part of the country)

    • Veluwezoom (centre)

    • Strabrechtse Heide (south)

  • Sampling stations in the middle of the conservation areas, away from intensive traffic and from agricultural and urban areas

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