Environmental quality standards for diclofenac derived under the European Water Framework Directive: 1. Aquatic organisms

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory human and veterinary medicine widely detected in European surface waters, especially downstream from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Veterinary uses of diclofenac in Europe are greatly restricted, so wastewater is the key exposure route for wildlife. Proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) which include an assessment of toxicity to aquatic organisms are under consideration by the European Commission (EC) to support the aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The EC approach favours the use of a deterministic (single test value and an assessment factor) approach to the derivation of a direct toxicity EQS for diclofenac, resulting in an EQS of 0.040 µg L−1 based on a single mesocosm study. In this paper, we discuss potential issues with this approach with respect to the EC’s own guidance on EQS derivation and derive an evidence-driven alternative EQS of 0.126 µg L−1 using a probabilistic (species sensitivity distribution) approach that accounts for all of the reliable and relevant data and is in accordance with the guidance. Europe-wide freshwater monitoring data for diclofenac are used in an indicative compliance assessment using the EC and the alternative evidence-driven EQS. The implications of using only some data to derive an EQS that does not adhere to the guidance, compared to a guidance-compliant approach that uses all the data available are also discussed.

Evaluation of the Quality of Drinking Water and Rivers in the Mantaro Valley, Central Peru

The quality of river water is essential for the survival of living beings, whether for agricultural, livestock or human consumption. This study was carried out in the province of Junín, in different districts of Huancayo, the analysis of the samples was carried out in the continental university, from which the data were obtained for comparisons. This investigation revealed that the Chanchas river water has a higher concentration of pollutants during the afternoons since the pH is 8.69 (alkaline), being within the environmental quality standards, however these waters are not recommended for irrigation because it would cause plants do not absorb nutrients properly. Likewise, it was shown that the pH values of the drinking water of the four districts are similar, being 7.36, verifying that it is within the maximum permissible limit and suitable for consumption.

Environmental quality standards for diclofenac derived under the european water framework directive: 1. Aquatic organisms

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory human and veterinary medicine widely detected in European surface waters, especially downstream from Wastewater Treatment Plants. Veterinary uses of diclofenac in Europe are greatly restricted, so wastewater is the key exposure route for wildlife. Proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) which include an assessment of toxicity to aquatic organisms are under consideration by the European Commission (EC) to support the aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The EC approach favours the use of a deterministic (single test value and an assessment factor) approach to the derivation of a direct toxicity EQS for diclofenac, resulting in an EQS of 0.040 µg L− 1 based on a single mesocosm study. In this paper, we discuss potential issues with this approach with respect to the EC’s own guidance on EQS derivation and derive an evidence-driven alternative EQS of 0.126 µg L− 1 using a probabilistic (Species Sensitivity Distribution) approach that accounts for all of the reliable and relevant data and is in accordance with the guidance. Europe-wide freshwater monitoring data for diclofenac are used in an indicative compliance assessment using the EC and the alternative evidence-driven EQS. The implications of using only some data to derive an EQS that does not adhere to the guidance, compared to a guidance compliant approach that uses all the data available is also discussed.

Issues of Establishing Standards for Radiation Safety of Wildlife Including the Radioactive Waste Management

Although some regulatory requirements are available in Russia to ensure and demonstrate the radiation safety of the environment including those covering the atomic energy sector, still no criteria establishing the safe levels of radionuclide concentrations in the environment have been approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation. Threshold concentrations in the environment established to protect human health have been largely used as such criteria. The experience gained shows that in some cases due to the radioactive contamination of the environment, certain biological species received higher radiation doses compared to humans. In 2014, a methodology was developed to assess the radiation damage caused to the environment at RW storage facilities taking into account relevant international recommendations. Safe level of non-human biota exposure of 1 mGy/d was established for mammals, vertebrates and pine trees as a criteria providing favorable environment and radioecological safety, whereas relevant value for the rest of flora organisms and invertebrates was taken equal to 10 mGy/d. In 2016, Roshydromet approved the recommendations on a procedure developed to calculate the reference levels of radionuclide concentrations in the environmental components taking into account relevant testing methods. The experience gained from the testing of environmentally safe levels proposed in these papers can be used to develop and adopt environmental quality standards. In the near future, environmental quality standards should be developed and approved to implement the provisions of the Federal Law No. 7 and relevant decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation which will be aimed at preserving the wildlife and the gene pool of plants, animals and other living organisms.

The Status of Environmental Laws on the Environment Quality Standards

This publication is devoted to the research of Russian legal regulation of environmental quality standards. So in the article the concept, functions and types of this group of environmental standards were investigated. Particular attention is paid to the controversial, problematic issues of the commented legal institution. As a result of the study, the author came to the conclusion that legislation on this field of environmental protection is developing rapidly. Meanwhile, many more environmental issues remain beyond the scope of the legal solution. So, the author found that there is no exhaustive, statutory list of physical indicators that are subject to state standardization. Commented standards are dispersed in a huge number of regulatory and technical acts, which are not ordered in any way. For the most part, many environmental quality standards are aimed at protecting human health. Physical standards of quality in the field of flora and fauna are practically absent. The article contains proposals for improving environmental legislation in the considered area.