Organic contaminants in the aquatic environment. III. Public health aspects, quality standards and legislation.

Literature on the health aspects and possible risks of the presence of organic micropollutants in water and waste waters is reviewed and the quality standards and legislation pertaining to certain organic compounds which have been promulgated by some countries and international organisations are assessed and compared. It is evident from the literature that different standards may be applied to waters which are designated for particular uses and that quality standards for protection of the aquatic environment (aquatic organisms) are generally more stringent than those applied to drinking water. Quality standards developed by different countries and organisations display a broad similarity in most cases, but differ where various approaches have been employed in determining the toxicity of and hazards presented by individual compounds. It is concluded that such legislation will become more comprehensive in the future, with the inclusion of more substances and recommendations for treatment procedures.