New advice to protect water bodies from pesticide pollution has been published by EU experts. “Training the Operators to Prevent Pollution from Point Sources” or TOPPS, collates and provides best practice from 15 European countries. TOPPS aims for a sustainable improvement of water quality through education and training.
It only takes a poor application or a small spill of pesticide to break water quality standards. The best management practice recommendations focus on six stages in the pesticide management process including: transport, storage, before, during and after spraying operations, and remnant/waste management, where improvements will have a positive impact on reducing pesticide losses.
Simon Cooper at Harper Adams University College and the UK partner coordinator of TOPPS emphasises “Everyone who uses pesticides has a responsibility to ensure that they use them safely, correctly and effectively. TOPPS strives to re-enforce this message and disseminate consistent advice, training and information across Europe. Following a few simple rules can help stop pesticides reaching water. Whenever you are using pesticides it is essential to adopt best practice to protect water.”
For further information on the current research into all aspects of pesticide usage, storage and pollution impacts make sure that you search CAB Abstracts. In addition CABI has made 0.5 million abstracts freely available via Google that can be easily searched here.