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Science 25 August 2006:
Vol. 313. no. 5790, pp. 1072 - 1077
DOI: 10.1126/science.1127291
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Review

The Challenge of Micropollutants in Aquatic Systems

René P. Schwarzenbach,* Beate I. Escher, Kathrin Fenner, Thomas B. Hofstetter, C. Annette Johnson, Urs von Gunten, Bernhard Wehrli

The increasing worldwide contamination of freshwater systems with thousands of industrial and natural chemical compounds is one of the key environmental problems facing humanity. Although most of these compounds are present at low concentrations, many of them raise considerable toxicological concerns, particularly when present as components of complex mixtures. Here we review three scientific challenges in addressing water-quality problems caused by such micropollutants. First, tools to assess the impact of these pollutants on aquatic life and human health must be further developed and refined. Second, cost-effective and appropriate remediation and water-treatment technologies must be explored and implemented. Third, usage and disposal strategies, coupled with the search for environmentally more benign products and processes, should aim to minimize introduction of critical pollutants into the aquatic environment.

Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland, and Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rene.schwarzenbach{at}env.ethz.ch

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