The list of WFD priority substances is based on the risk each substance poses to aquatic ecosystems and human health through the aquatic environment.
In order to identify the substances have been developed a special method, COMMPS (combined monitoring-based and modeling-based priority setting). This means that the compounds are ranked according to their relative risk. It also takes into account the substance distribution in the environment and in what amounts and patterns of use.
The first list of 33 substances or groups of substances was prioritised at Union level for inclusion in Annex X to Directive 2000/60/EC.
List of priority substances in the field of water policy
| Number | CAS number(i) | EU number(ii) | Name of priority substance(iii) | Identified as priority hazardous substance |
| (1) | 15972-60-8 | 240-110-8 | Alachlor | |
| (2) | 120-12-7 | 204-371-1 | Anthracene | X |
| (3) | 1912-24-9 | 217-617-8 | Atrazine | |
| (4) | 71-43-2 | 200-753-7 | Benzene | |
| (5) | not applicable | not applicable | Brominated diphenylether (iv) | X |
| 32534-81-9 | not applicable | Pentabromodiphenylether (v) (congener numbers 28, 47, 99, 100, 153 and 154) | ||
| (6) | 7440-43-9 | 231-152-8 | Cadmium and its compounds | X |
| (7) | 85535-84-8 | 287-476-5 | Chloroalkanes, C10-13 (iv) | X |
| (8) | 470-90-6 | 207-432-0 | Chlorfenvinphos | |
| (9) | 2921-88-2 | 220-864-4 | Chlorpyrifos (Chlorpyrifos‑ethyl) |
|
| (10) | 107-06-2 | 203-458-1 | 1,2-Dichloroethane | |
| (11) | 75-09-2 | 200-838-9 | Dichloromethane | |
| (12) | 117-81-7 | 204-211-0 | Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) | |
| (13) | 330-54-1 | 206-354-4 | Diuron | |
| (14) | 115-29-7 | 204-079-4 | Endosulfan | X |
| (15) | 206-44-0 | 205-912-4 | Fluoranthene (vi) | |
| (16) | 118-74-1 | 204-273-9 | Hexachlorobenzene | X |
| (17) | 87-68-3 | 201-765-5 | Hexachlorobutadiene | X |
| (18) | 608-73-1 | 210-158-9 | Hexachlorocyclohexane | X |
| (19) | 34123-59-6 | 251-835-4 | Isoproturon | |
| (20) | 7439-92-1 | 231-100-4 | Lead and its compounds | |
| (21) | 7439-97-6 | 231-106-7 | Mercury and its compounds | X |
| (22) | 91-20-3 | 202-049-5 | Naphthalene | |
| (23) | 7440-02-0 | 231-111-4 | Nickel and its compounds | |
| (24) | 25154-52-3 | 246-672-0 | Nonylphenols | X |
| 104-40-5 | 203-199-4 | (4-nonylphenol) | X | |
| (25) | 1806-26-4 | 217-302-5 | Octylphenols | |
| 140-66-9 | not applicable | (4-(1,1',3,3'-tetramethylbutyl)-phenol) | ||
| (26) | 608-93-5 | 210-172-5 | Pentachlorobenzene | X |
| (27) | 87-86-5 | 201-778-6 | Pentachlorophenol | |
| (28) | not applicable | not applicable | Polyaromatic hydrocarbons | x |
| 50-32-8 | 200-028-5 | (Benzo(a)pyrene) | x | |
| 205-99-2 | 205-911-9 | (Benzo(b)fluoranthene) | x | |
| 191-24-2 | 205-883-8 | (Benzo(g,h,i)perylene) | x | |
| 207-08-9 | 205-916-6 | (Benzo(k)fluoranthene) | x | |
| 193-39-5 | 205-893-2 | (Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene) | x | |
| (29) | 122-34-9 | 204-535-2 | Simazine | |
| (30) | not applicable | not applicable | Tributyltin compounds | X |
| 36643-28-4 | not applicable | (Tributyltin-cation) | X | |
| (31) | 12002-48-1 | 234-413-4 | Trichlorobenzenes | |
| (32) | 67-66-3 | 200-663-8 | Trichloromethane (chloroform) | |
| (33) | 1582-09-8 | 216-428-8 | Trifluralin |
|
(i) |
CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service. |
|
(ii) |
EU number: European Inventory of Existing Commercial Substances (EINECS) or European List of Notified Chemical Substances (ELINCS). |
|
(iii) |
Where groups of substances have been selected, typical individual representatives are listed as indicative parameters (in brackets and without number). For these groups of substances, the indicative parameter must be defined through the analytical method. |
|
(iv) |
These groups of substances normally include a considerable number of individual compounds. At present, appropriate indicative parameters cannot be given. |
|
(v) |
Only Pentabromobiphenylether (CAS number 32534 81 9). |
|
(vi) |
Fluoranthene is on the list as an indicator of other, more dangerous polyaromatic hydrocarbons. |
Other pollutants
Directive 2008/105/EC ("Daughter Directive") sets environmental quality standards (EQS), in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC, for the 33 priority substances, but also for eight additional other substances.
| CAS number | Name of other pollutant | |
| (6a) | 56-23-5 | Carbon-tetrachloride(1) |
| (9b) | not applicable | DDT total (1)(2) |
| 50-29-3 | para-para-DDT (1) | |
| (9a) | Cyclodiene pesticides | |
| 309-00-2 | Aldrin (1) | |
| 60-57-1 | Dieldrin (1) | |
| 72-20-8 | Endrin (1) | |
| 465-73-6 | Isodrin (1) | |
| (29a) | 127-18-4 | Tetrachloro-ethylene (1) |
| (29b) | 79-01-6 | Trichloro-ethylene (1) |
|
(1) |
This substance is not a priority substance but one of the other pollutants for which the EQS are identical to those laid down in the legislation that applied prior to 13 January 2009 |
|
(2) |
DDT total comprises the sum of the isomers 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (CAS number 50-29-3; EU number 200-024-3); 1,1,1-trichloro-2 (o-chlorophenyl)-2-(p-chlorophenyl) ethane (CAS number 789-02-6; EU Number 212-332-5); 1,1-dichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (CAS number 72-55-9; EU Number 200-784-6); and 1,1-dichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (CAS number 72-54-8; EU Number 200-783-0). |
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