Environment and Water : from EC a proposal to tackle new forms of chemical pollution
1 February Article 16 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets out "Strategies against pollution of water" to outline the action to be taken. In 2001 a first list of priority substances was established and has become annex X to the WFD. Recent results showed that improving water quality in the European Union could be compromised by new forms of chemical pollution. To the 33 pollutants that are monitored and controlled in EU surface waters t he Commission proposed to add new 15 chemicals including industrial chemicals as well as substances used in biocides, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products. This substances have been selected according to scientific evidence that they may pose a significant risk to health. Priority Hazardous Substances are: Dicofol, Quinoxyfen, PFOS, Heptachlor, HBCDD, Dioxin and Dioxin-Like PCBs.. The proposal intends to represent a further step towards the improvement of quality in our river, lake and coastal waters. The update will be achieved through a revision of the Directive on priority substances in the field of water quality.