AbstractSummary: In the drinking‐water regulation of the Federal Republic of Germany limit values in the range of 0.1 μg/l are established for pesticides. Identification and quantitative determination of pesticides in this concentration range require a very high expenditure concerning analysis, devices and equipment, analytical methods having been available so far only on a limited scale. The sum limit value of 0.5 μg/l pesticides may create special difficulties. In general, in view of the approx. 300 possible substances first of all a screening has to be proposed concerning the exceeding of limit values based on knowledge from the catchment area and its potential loading as the first step of investigation. Suitable methods of determination are partly available in gas chromatography and high‐pressure liquid chromatography. Promising in the future development are the biochemical methods of enzyme inhibition (cholinesterase) and of immunoassay with radioactive and enzyme labelling. Nevertheless, for the foreseeable future standard methods will be available only for approx. Two thirds of the total of 300 substances, so that discussing the effectiveness of the limit values should be carri
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