Impact of a diazinon calamity in 1996 on the aquatic macroinvertebrates in the River Meuse, The Netherlands

A more or less continuous load of pesticides has been noted in the River Meuse in recent years. In April 1996, when high concentrations (up toca. 1 μg 1−1) of the insecticide diazinon were measured in the River Meuse at the Belgian-Dutch border, the maximum concentration for drinking water production was exceeded. This was alerted after activity changes of fish and daphnids in the biological monitoring systems (RIZA). These observations were compared with literature toxicity data of diazinon, in order to determine the ecological impact of this diazinon discharge on the aquatic macroinvertebrates. LC50 values of several aquatic macroinvertebrate species were exceeded. In addition, a high mortality was observed in bioassays with the midgeChironomus riparius and the caddisflyHydropsyche angustipennis. It is inferred that the species composition of the macrofauna community in the River Meuse is likely to be reduced by such an accident. Recolonization of the River Meuse by sensitive macrofauna species may therefore be prevented by incidental pesticide discharges.