N-/P-PESTICIDES IN THE CZECH AND GERMAN PART OF THE RIVER ELBE - ANALYTICAL METHODS AND TRENDS OF POLLUTION

A GC/MS screening procedure and an analytical routine method with GC/NP-detection is described for N-/P-pesticides in the river Elbe, The GC/MS screening procedure allows the separate analysis of pesticides in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and water (centrifugate), For the pesticides identified only a negligible (< 1%) amount was bound to SPM compared to the ''dissolved'' amount in the centrifugate, N-/P-pesticide concentrations as time series and Elbe length-profiles are presented showing a drastical decrease of the pesticide pollution of the Elbe from 1989 to 1994. Major compounds were dimethoate, parathion-methyl, atrazine and simazine found in the mu g/l range in the Elbe downstream of its tributary Mulde obviously stemming from a former East German pesticide production site.