Published: 14 Jul 2011
Hazardous substances in fresh and marine
water can harm aquatic life and pose a risk
to human health, according to a new report
published today by the European Environment
Agency (EEA). The report notes that while
European legislation to address the issue
is relatively strong, new challenges exist
including ‘emerging pollutants’ where potential
effects are not yet fully understood. More
effort is also needed to ensure that chemicals
are produced and used more sustainably.
Hazardous substances in water affect aquatic
life and can pose a threat to human health
Hazardous substances are emitted to fresh
and marine waters through a range of pathways
and from a variety of sources, including
industry, agriculture, transport, mining
and waste disposal, as well as from our
own homes. Hazardous substances found in
fresh and marine waters and associated sediment
and biota include a wide range of industrial
and household chemicals, metals, pesticides
and pharmaceuticals. Some substances, for
example tributyltin (TBT), persist in aquatic
environments long after they have been phased
out.
Hazardous substances can have detrimental
effects on aquatic biota. Substances with
endocrine-disrupting properties, for example,
can impair reproduction in fish and shellfish,
while the effects of organochlorines on
marine life are well documented. Such impacts
diminish the services provided by aquatic
ecosystems, including the provision of food.
Humans can be exposed to hazardous substances
in water, through ingesting contaminated
drinking water and consuming contaminated
freshwater fish and seafood. Some metals
have been found in seafood above regulatory
levels, whilst levels of banned substances
such as DDT can also be high.
Legislation is in place but faces new challenges
Well-established legislation within Europe
has led to positive outcomes including a
reduction in emissions of metals to air
and water. Legislation implemented more
recently, including the Water Framework
Directive and REACH (Regulation on the Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction
of Chemicals) will play a key role in addressing
hazardous substances in water.
For some pollutants, awareness of potential
effects has only emerged recently and scientific
understanding may still be incomplete. These
‘emerging pollutants’ include substances
that have existed for some time, such as
pharmaceuticals and personal care products,
but also relatively new ones such as nanomaterials.
Policy makers need more information on the
levels and effects of these emerging pollutants.
Better understanding is needed too, with
regard to the effects of chemical mixtures
which are found in the more polluted water
bodies of Europe.
In the absence of appropriately strong measures,
climate change is likely to adversely affect
chemical water quality over the coming decades.
More intense rainfall, for example, is predicted
to increase the flushing of hazardous substances
from both urban and agricultural land.
The report concludes that to reduce hazardous
substances in water, a more sustainable
production and use of chemicals should be
applied both in Europe and beyond. This
global approach would not only benefit Europe's
environment but also reduce detrimental
effects arising in other parts of the world,
because a growing proportion of goods consumed
within Europe are produced outside its borders.
Adopting sustainable green chemistry techniques
can also play an important role, although
there is currently no comprehensive EU legislation
in this area.
