Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water: Should the Public Be Concerned?

Significant media coverage regarding new chemicals being found in water supplies has given rise to public concerns about the safety of their drinking water. Emerging contaminants in drinking water supplies, which include pharmaceuticals, personal care products and endocrine disruptor compounds, have been regularly detected at trace levels in drinking water sources in many countries. Regulators around the world are grappling with questions from the public relating to possible health outcomes from long-term exposure to these contaminants in their drinking water. The presentation will discuss the challenges in addressing public concern about these contaminants and how communicating scientific uncertainties requires a balanced and clear series of messages.