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Samples taken from 29 intensive farm water bodies in the EU showed antibiotics in 70% of cases and all pesticides. This is the result of a test released Thursday by Greenpeace in a total of ten states in the EU. Austrian rivers have also been studied in Styria and Upper Austria.
The authorities are aware of the problem. National rivers, drinking water and drinking water are therefore scrutinized strictly and regularly, said Daniel Kosak, spokesman for the Minister of Agriculture and Environment , Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP), during the Greenpeace test on water.
Ministry of the Environment: Antibiotics come from the human
"All relevant investigations of the Federal Agency for the Environment or the AGES are publicly available," Kosak stressed. The amounts of antibiotics in the water are of the order of nanogram in Austria and are therefore not dangerous for health. For the most part, they did not come from agriculture, but from the man. The informal meeting of EU Water Directors, on Thursday in Vienna, is on the theme of water conservation in Europe. It would be important to have uniform limit values for objective controls. The Ministry of the Environment has "put on the agenda that such common boundaries should be developed," Kosak said.
At the same time, SPÖ spokesman on the environment, Klaus Feichtinger, commented on the report "Dirty Waters": "The government can no longer ignore this problem and must ensure that no pesticide illegal or prohibited is used and that the use of pesticides with appropriate measures is significantly reduced. "
"Industrial farming" a danger
"Industrial farming is a threat to our environment and our health," said Sebastian Theissing-Matei, agricultural expert at Greenpeace Austria. Through intensive
or industrial farming, veterinary drugs, pesticides, metals and nutrients would be flooded in abundance in the rivers. Once released into the environment, "badtails" of substances likely to harm sensitive ecosystems are formed, according to the report "Dirty Waters". "In the medium term, this also poses a health risk for ourselves, because antibiotics released into the environment by industrial breeding increase the risk of resistance," said Theissing-Matei on the subject. consequences of "pollution caused by industrial farming".
Three quarters of antibiotics to pigs
In Austria, samples were taken from Schwarzaubach and Stiefing – both in Styria – as well as from Sipbach in Upper Austria, according to NGO areas where the density of pigs is particularly high. Up to five veterinary drugs, including several antibiotics, and up to 38 different pesticides were detected per sample. It is the third largest pesticide value found in Europe.
Minister of Agriculture Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) and Health Minister Beate Hartinger-Klein (FPÖ) are allowed to take risks
Do not neglect mbad farming for the environment and health, the environmental organization demands.
In Austria, nearly three-quarters of all antibiotics used in breeding were produced in pigs. The high commitment leads to the development of important drug resistance. These super germs can also be dangerous for us, let's warn Greenpeace. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks antibiotic resistance as one of the three most urgent public health problems.
"The development of resistance has serious consequences for the medical treatment of patients, and infections are often difficult to treat with resistant or even incurable bacteria in some cases, so the handling of these essential drugs is, of course, strictly regulated. farms, "warned Hans-Peter Hutter, spokesman for doctors for a healthy environment.
Pollution by pesticides
Pollution by a variety of pesticides has been added to the water pollution studied by antibiotics: 27 in the Schwarzaubach, 38 in the Stiefing and 20 in the Sipbach. The pesticide value of Stiefing was the third highest found in Europe. "Agriculture in the sampled regions is mainly devoted to intensive animal feed, such as corn, to feed tens of thousands of pigs on the spot." So we can badume that a important proportion of pesticides comes from the production of animal feed, "he said Theissing-Matei.
According to the NGO, an ambitious strategy is needed
Antibiotic Reduction Program, Better Housing Conditions and
lower storage density. In addition, the modifications of
European agricultural subsidies required.
(APA / red).
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