Much of European Rainwater is Unfit to Drink

[Guest guest]

Much of European Rainwater is Unfit to Drink

Swiss Study

 

Last updated 12:54 PM ET March 31, 1999

 

 

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Rain falling in Europe is so full of toxic

pesticides that much of it is too dangerous to drink, Swiss

scientists said Wednesday.

 

Chemicals used in pesticides sprayed on crops evaporate, are absorbed

by clouds and returned to earth in rainwater. Researchers from the

Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology said

concentrations of dangerous substances in rain from a heavy storm

exceed the limit for drinking water set by the European Union and

Switzerland.

 

" Drinking water standards are regularly exceeded in rain, " Stephan

Muller told New Scientist magazine.

 

Muller and his colleagues analyzed samples of rainwater and found it

contained almost 400 nanograms per liter of the widely used pesticide

2-4-dinitrophenol -- quadruple the 100 nanograms limit set by the EU

for any pesticide. The highest concentrations of the substance were

found in the first heavy rainfall following a dry spell after crops

had been sprayed. Muller also suggested the first rainwater falling

on rooftops should be diverted to sewers, because the water could

contain traces of an herbicide added to roofing material.

[Guest guest]

So what does this do to crops which are labeled as being grown

organically? Looks like nothing will be safe soon unless we grow it at home

indoors & water with our own supply of distilled water.

 

Alobar

 

 

-

" ecliptex " <BobCook75

 

Thursday, February 07, 2002 4:12 PM

Much of European Rainwater is Unfit to Drink

 

 

> Much of European Rainwater is Unfit to Drink

> Swiss Study

>

> Last updated 12:54 PM ET March 31, 1999

>

>

>

> LONDON (Reuters) - Rain falling in Europe is so full of toxic

> pesticides that much of it is too dangerous to drink, Swiss

> scientists said Wednesday.

>

> Chemicals used in pesticides sprayed on crops evaporate, are absorbed

> by clouds and returned to earth in rainwater. Researchers from the

> Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology said

> concentrations of dangerous substances in rain from a heavy storm

> exceed the limit for drinking water set by the European Union and

> Switzerland.

>

> " Drinking water standards are regularly exceeded in rain, " Stephan

> Muller told New Scientist magazine.

>

> Muller and his colleagues analyzed samples of rainwater and found it

> contained almost 400 nanograms per liter of the widely used pesticide

> 2-4-dinitrophenol -- quadruple the 100 nanograms limit set by the EU

> for any pesticide. The highest concentrations of the substance were

> found in the first heavy rainfall following a dry spell after crops

> had been sprayed. Muller also suggested the first rainwater falling

> on rooftops should be diverted to sewers, because the water could

> contain traces of an herbicide added to roofing material.

>

>