Table 26.

Exposure routes and the definition of the EREQs for all life stages of amphibian populations (SPG: population persistence) in the aquatic environment (in‐field, and edge‐of‐field)

Exposure route		Source/location	EREQ	Temporal dimension of EREQ	Remarks
Contact exposure	Pond water	Spray drift	Concentration dissolved in pond water	Maximum or maximum moving TWAa over specified time window for AMA or LAGDA test in the relevant period of the year (length of the time window depends on the endpoint considered, e.g. growth or sex ratio)	Important route for in‐field ponds, less important for edge‐of‐field ponds located not immediately adjacent to crops
		Runoff			Important route, also for edge‐of‐field ponds receiving runoff water from treated fields
		Drainage			Possibly an important route
		Atmospheric deposition			Minor route for in‐field ponds. Negligible route for edge‐of‐field ponds (depending on the substance)
Oral exposure		Food, plants, sediment, water	The daily mass taken up by individuals of the population.	Maximum in relevant period of the year	May be important for a compound with high adsorption capacity such as pyrethroids No spiked food in AMA and LAGDA tests, therefore the main exposure route in AMA and LAGDA tests is via contact (water)
Breathing		Air	–	–	Expected to be a minor route of exposure compared to contact and oral exposure for juveniles and adults, for aquatic eggs, hatchlings and larvae expected to be unimportant as they do not or hardly breath

^aSee the Aquatic Guidance Document (Section 4.5.1 in EFSA, 2013) for criteria when TWA concentrations may be used.