The Water JPI is proud to announce the publication of a second policy brief on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). The paper was produced as a result of the collaboration between international researchers involved in the first Water JPI Knowledge Hub on CECs (Water JPI SRIA Theme 2). The policy brief is entitled “Contaminants of Emerging Concern – an emerging risk in our waters”.
Climate change and the growing demand to satisfy human and economic needs are increasing the pressure on our water resources. The volume of chemicals used in our daily lives has increased tremendously over the last number of decades and new chemical substances are regularly put on the market. Both during and after their use, these compounds find their way into our water bodies and our environment.
One of the main tasks of the first Water JPI Knowledge Hub is to improve communication and knowledge exchange between stakeholders and the scientific community in the field of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). The topic of CECs is a complex one, with questions frequently asked about their impact on the environment and on human health. A better understanding of their occurrence and fate in the water cycle is needed, as are strategies for their monitoring, mitigation and removal. This should be considered in the implementation of any legal regulatory requirements after risk assessment.