The EC directives (1981, 1992) stipulate that in requesting registration of a veterinary medicinal product, information will have to be provided for carrying out an environmental risk assessment. The risk assessment methodology presented here is, on the whole, structured around the risk-quotient approach. Calculated environmental concentrations are compared with effect data established in toxicity studies. Directive 81/852/EEC describes the assessment process in two phases. Phase I is to assess if the product, the ingredients or the relevant metabolites will, in fact, result in environmental exposure. For this reason the first phase is limited to product identification and to exposure assessment. Several exemptions for further testing are given, e.g. the limit values for calculated environmental concentrations. If these exemptions do not apply , and limit values are exceeded, one enters Phase II. Once again, Phase II is split into Tiers A and B. Tier A begins with an elaborate evaluation of the possible fate and effects. If the applicant is unable to demonstrate that exposure is minimised to a level of no concern to the environment, the effects in the relevant compartments must be adequately investigated in Tier B. The non-uniform Tier B evaluation is dependent on expert judgement, therefore beyond the scope of this document.

This report, representing the fourth in a series on a biological monitoring programme, describes the nematodes found in the mineral soil of 18 dairy-cattle farms located on grasslands with peat soils. These nematodes are also compared with the nematodes found on earlier sampled dairy-cattle farms on sandy soils. The farms had different numbers of cattle (mainly cows) per ha, leading to differences in the amounts of manure per ha which were supposed to be indicated by the concentrations of phosphate. The average number of nematodes found (9400 per 100 g soil ) comes very close to the number found on the extensive cattle farms on the sandy soils (10,000 per 100 g soil). The numbers of nematodes found in the intensive farms on sandy soils are higher (12,400 per 100 g soil), while those of the most intensive farms (6600 per 100 g soil) are lower. Increases in cattle intensity lead, on average, to the different farm types showing higher numbers of bacterivores and lower numbers of plantfeeders. The different indices, trophic diversity index T, maturity indices MI and Sigma MI, Shannon-Weaver index H', index of richness SR and the index of 'evenness' J', as well as the number of taxa N, are highest in the peat and sandy soils of the extensive farms, while lowest in the intensive farms. The number of nematodes from c-p group 1 (colonizers) increases with higher manure production.

The principles of prevention and risk reduction have been firmly established in many regulations of the European Commission (EC) and with them the concepts of risk assessment and risk management of substances. The principles for carrying out the risk assessment of both new and existing substances have been laid down in Commission Directives, which are supported with a detailed package of Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs). In co-operation with other EU member states and industry, the RIVM has developed the computer program EUSES (European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances) for the European Chemicals Bureau. This program uses the release estimation tables of the TGDs. This report functions as the guidance document for using these emission tables (release scenarios) developed at the RIVM at the time. They will serve as a fall-back where no or insufficient data are available on concentrations in or releases to the environment. Dealt with are, first, aspects of the life cycle of substances, emissions and sources which one can distinguish and the estimation of emissions. Second, the set-up of the tables is described and the distinction between production levels and the categories considered in the TGDs are focused on. Finally, a number of examples have been worked out for (fictitious) substances on how to interpret the tables according to the description of function and use.

This report is based on reports from provinces and municipalities on exceedances of the air quality standards for the compounds sulphur dioxide, suspended particles (black smoke), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead and benzene. No exceedances of air quality standards were reported for industrial areas. For 116 roadblocks exceedances were reported: 52 times benzene, 62 times nitrogen dioxide and 2 times carbon monoxide

Ambient air concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde and benzaldehyde, have been determined at an urban background (Amsterdam) and a rural site (Biddinghuizen) during approximately one year. Concentrations were measured with DNPH-coated C18 cartridges followed by RP-HPLC-UV analysis. Samples were taken during the night, during midday and during the morning and evening traffic peak hours. The detection limits were in the range of 0.1-1 mug m exp. -3 and uncertainties in concentrations were about 10-25%. The concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde (5- to 8-h averages) were in the range of 0.2 to 7 mug m exp. -3, with averages over the whole campaign of 2.8 and 2.5 mug m exp. -3 at the urban site, and 1.8 and 2.1 mug m exp. -3 at the rural location. Benzaldehyde and crotonaldehyde did not exceed 0.3 mug m exp. -3. The daily maxima of formaldehyde at the urban background and rural site were 5 and 3.6 mug m exp.-3, respectively, which is far below the maximum permissible concentration of 40 mug m exp. -3 for this compound in the Netherlands. Measurements of acrolein failed due to the instability of the acrolein derivatives on the cartridges. Daily average acrolein levels, estimated on the basis of the measured aldehyde concentrations and information from literature, were less than 1 mug m exp. -3, which is far below the maximum permissible concentration 6 mug m exp. -3. Substantially higher levels of formaldehyde and acrolein may occur in main traffic streets, but it is unlikely that maximum permissible concentrations will be exceeded. From the relationship between the courses of the aldehyde concentrations and those of other compounds it was found that the main sources of aldehydes appear to be direct emissions from traffic, formation in photochemical reactions and, to a smaller extent, long-range transport of air pollution from abroad (particularly eastern Europe). Other sources, e.g. industrial or indoor air, may also play a role but our data do not allow any valid statement about this.

An Environmental Balance for the Netherlands is drawn up yearly in accordance with the Environmental Management Act to describe the quality of the environment related to the environmental policy realised.

This report gives an overview of the present state of quality assurance in the drinking-water production in the Netherlands in 1996. The Netherlands Inspectorate for the Environment carried out an investigation at 49 drinking-water companies. The process of drinking-water treatment was examined using a checklist with special attention for quality assurance and hygienic aspects, safety, and communication and environmental aspects. Most of the companies stood on the side of quality assurance according to existing procedures ; employees were enthousiastic and well versed. Especially the technological and analytical aspects are well organised. However, still much work has to be done to reach the level of an accepted quality assurance system.<br>

This interim report describes the updated risk assessment system for agricultural and non-agricultural pesticides. It will be integrated with the European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances, EUSES 1.0, into USES 2.0, the second version of the Uniform System for the Evaluation of Substances. The report is primarily made as preparation to the programming and testing of USES 2.0.

Using the database documented in the TNO/RIVM report, 'Calculations of atmospheric deposition of contaminants on the North Sea', additional data on the emission of some substances to air were collected and their subsequent contribution emissions to air were collected for some substances, and their subsequent contribution to the total load via atmospheric deposition onto the North Sea and Netherlands inland waters evaluated. The percentages with which emissions to air will have to be reduced to reach the environmental quality target were calculated, leading to the following conclusions: 1) Atmospheric deposition is an important source of pollution in both the North Sea and the Netherlands' inland fresh waters, especially for the case of persistent organic substances (PAH, PCB and pesticides). The contribution increases when run-off and seepage are taken into account, mainly in the case of nitrogen. 2) The contribution of emissions to air in the Netherlands (via atmospheric deposition) to the total load in the North Sea, and inland surface waters , is small. 3) Emissions of PAH and PCB to air in the Netherlands contribute about 10% to the total load in the North Sea and inland surface waters. 4) Although the contribution of the Netherlands' emissions to air via atmospheric deposition onto the Netherlands' inland waters is small, the Netherlands is a net exporter of pollutants via air emissions. 5) Emissions to air in the Netherlands contribute substantially to the pesticide load of the North Sea and inland waters. 6) Atmospheric deposition of heavy metals decreases by 10-20% from 1990 to 2000, with the exception of lead, which decreases by 50-60% in the same period. 7) Atmospheric deposition of PAH decreases by only 20% from 1990 to 2000. 8) The uncertainty in the calculations varies with the pollutant studied. Heavy metals are under- or overestimated by 20-50%; NOx by 30%, PAH by 200% and pesticides by 500%.<br>

Aims of this study were to calculate emission reductions (%) for policy target groups (like industry, traffic and refineries) to evaluate present agreements on emission reductions and to advise on possible new long-term agreements. Aims were subject to the conditions that harmonized methods and data to be used and, where possible, that the local situation be considered. Using the Dutch Government's definition of environmental quality objectives for priority substances in air, soil and surface waters, i.e. the limit and target concentrations, we calculated the corresponding emission levels and then compared these to present emissions. Subsequently, priority substances were ranked in terms of: i) emission reduction needed, ii) targeted sector and iii) scale - number and location of emission sources - at which environmental quality was exceeded. If target concentrations in air, surface water and soil are to be met, large reduction of more than 50% on a national scale will be needed for PM10, ethene, benzene, BaP, NOx and fluoride to air; copper, nickel and zinc to water, and copper, cadmium an zinc to soil.