Environmental Alert: 135 Pesticides Found in Swiss Waterways

• A total of 135 different pesticides were detected in five Swiss streams and rivers during a recent national study.
• 23 of the detected pesticides exceeded ecotoxicological quality criteria, posing a direct risk to aquatic organisms.
• Contamination levels for some substances exceeded safety limits by a factor of more than 100.
• The current Water Protection Ordinance only sets limits for 19 pesticides, failing to cover the majority of risks identified.
• Insecticides like fipronil enter rivers via wastewater treatment plants, originating from pet flea and tick treatments.

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