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Abstract
The detection of many new compounds in surface water, groundwater and drinking water
raises considerable public concern, especially when human health based guideline values
are not available it is questioned if detected concentrations affect human health.
In an attempt to address this question, we derived provisional drinking water guideline
values for a selection of 50 emerging contaminants relevant for drinking water and
the water cycle. For only 10 contaminants, statutory guideline values were available.
Provisional drinking water guideline values were based upon toxicological literature
data. The maximum concentration levels reported in surface waters, groundwater and/or
drinking water were compared to the (provisional) guideline values of the contaminants
thus obtained, and expressed as Benchmark Quotient (BQ) values. We focused on occurrence
data in the downstream parts of the Rhine and Meuse river basins. The results show
that for the majority of compounds a substantial margin of safety exists between the
maximum concentration in surface water, groundwater and/or drinking water and the
(provisional) guideline value. The present assessment therefore supports the conclusion
that the majority of the compounds evaluated pose individually no appreciable concern
to human health.
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