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Overview
Unregulated or emerging contaminants are substances that are characterized by a real or perceived threat to human health or the environment and for which there are no currently published health standards. These substances can include, but are not limited to, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products (PPCPs), flame retardants, toxic chemicals, algal toxins, nanoparticles and hexavalent chromium. See the following for more information:
Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants (PPCPs) are a diverse collection of thousands of chemical substances comprising all products used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons and those used by agribusiness to enhance growth or health of livestock. Some examples of PPCPs are prescription and over-the-counter drugs, veterinary drugs, dietary supplements, fragrances, cosmetics and lotions, and laundry and cleaning products. See the following for more information:
Pesticides in School Drinking Water
In the spring of 2012, 22 Oregon schools participated in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pesticide Data Program's Drinking Water Project. The purpose of this sampling project was to collect data on the national prevalence of pesticides and pesticide breakdown products in school well water. Visit the Study of Pesticides in School Drinking Water page to learn more about the project and the results for the participating Oregon schools.
Hexavalent Chromium
On January 11th, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a press release and guidance for enhanced monitoring of hexavalent chromium (i.e., chromium-6) in drinking water. The enhanced monitoring guidance provides recommendations on where drinking water systems should collect samples, how often they should be collected, and what analytical methods should be utilized for laboratory testing. These EPA recommendations are in response to the emerging scientific evidence that hexavalent chromium could pose potential health concerns if consumed over long periods of time. For more information, please see the following resources: