Non-regulated water contaminants: emerging research

Those chemical pollutants that are regulated under various international, federal, and state programs represent but a small fraction of the universe of chemicals that occur in the environment as a result of both natural processes and human influence. Although the number of these targeted chemicals might be minuscule compared with the universe of both known and yet-to-be identified chemicals, an implicit assumption is that these selective lists of chemicals are responsible for the most significant share of risk with respect to environmental or economic impairment or to human health. This paper examines some of the less-discussed aspects of the background and assumptions that underlie society's relationship with chemical pollutants in water, particularly with respect to the need for a more holistic understanding of exposure and risk.