ENVS 1126 : Envs Article Review 2
Perez
1
Juan Perez Jr.
Professor Laura Basirico
Environmental Science 1126
November 20, 2015
Water Contamination in Hungary
Over 2000 surface, ground, and raw drinking water samples have been analyzed in the
frame of different monitoring projects in Hungary and watercourses in neighboring countries
over a course of many years. Through these projects, the problem occurs that the widespread use
of pesticides for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes has resulted in the presence of their
residues in surface and ground water resources. Knowing that the presence of these residues can
lead to pesticide contamination, it is evident that Hungary take action immediately. In the
experiment to maintain the spread of pesticides in water, “a total of 49 pesticide residues and
degradation products were monitored in Hungary.” Monitoring the water included, collecting
water samples for a long period of time, establishing campaigns to demonstrate their status, and
sampling soils on cultivation fields. With this approach, Hungary were able to collect helpful
data, but they couldn’t stop this problem from expanding. Specifically, over years of observation
and experimenting, Hungary results show that “56%, 28%, and 62% of water samples collected
during the project were found to be polluted by one or more pesticide active ingredients in 2006,
2007, and 2008…. soils were 38%, 59%, and 41%, whereas the main soil pollutants were DDE,
lindane, and trifluralin.” The results from experimenting show that they used the correct
approach to determine what is contaminating the water, but not the best approach to prevent
contamination. For better results, the experiment should be repeated multiple times, with a more
direct approach at eliminating the pesticides, instead of focusing mainly on where to find them.
