Arroyo 2013 Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water

When the news reports on traces of birth control hormones or pain killers found in water, we do not know what to think. Is there any danger? How will these contaminants affect fish and other wildlife? Should we do something? What should we do? Many water contaminants are the subject of regulations that protect water quality, but many more fall into the category of substances for which we do not know the answer to these basic questions. These include substances that have been called emerging contaminants or contaminants of emerging concern (CECs).