Pesticides and antibiotics detected in Sipbach

Pesticides and antibiotics detected in Sipbach

LINZ / VIENNA / SATTLEDT. Industrial farming pollutes the waters. This is the result of a study by the environmental protection organization Greenpeace, for which samples were taken from 29 water bodies located in ten Member States of the world. 39; EU. Always selected intensive breeding areas.

Austrian samples were taken from areas with a high density of pigs. Image: APHR / HELMUT FOHRINGER

Three of the samples come from local waters: Stiefing and Schwarzaubach in Styria and Sipbach in Upper Austria. The sample, taken at Sattledt (Wels-Land district), detected 20 pesticides, 10 of which were banned. There are also five veterinary drugs, including two antibiotics.

Required actions

Greenpeace points out that proven funds do not have to be used right now. It could also act of substances previously used and stored in the soil.

These results result from the fact that pesticides are used in areas for animal feed and that manure is also used, which also contains nitrate and phosphate. Although it is important nutrients, they can however pollute excessively the waters, because all the mixture infiltrates the soil.

In the Sipbach, for example, the nitrate content is 77% of the European limit, which is significantly higher than the concentration considered safe for sensitive aquatic animals. Greenpeace is now asking for political action. We must not ignore the risks to health and the environment.

"We must now clearly clarify what substances it is, if they are currently used and how they pose a problem," said environmental advisor Rudi Anschober (Greens). "But I guess that national agriculture does not use prohibited means."

"Uncertain Scare"

With regard to veterinary medicines tested, experts warn about the risk of emergence of antibiotic-resistant germs. "The more concentrated the farms, the more antibiotics are used," says Anschober. "That's why we need to get out of mbad animal farming as quickly as possible."

With anger, the representatives of agriculture respond to the study. Farmers peasants and confederate farmers Max Hiegelsberger (vice president) speak of "impartiality" and "feelings on the back of farmers", the president of the House of Agriculture , Franz Reisecker, speaks about "alarmism". He explains that the 20 active pesticide substances present in the Sipbach sample fall below the strict precautionary limits applicable to drinking water, 16 below the limit of quantification.

Hiegelsberger refers to a study by the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), according to which antibiotic levels of groundwater and drinking water in the country have no toxicological effect on human health. Farmers were cautious with drugs and pesticides.

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