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On 30 January 2000, a tailings pond burst at a facility near the city of Baia Mare, Romania which was reprocessing old mining tailings and re-depositing the waste sludge into a new tailings pond. This led to approximately 100,000 m3 of waste water containing up to 120 tons of cyanide and heavy metals being released into the Lapus River, then traveling downstream into the Somes and Tisa rivers into Hungary before entering the Danube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This short review collects the essential data on the acute and chronic oral toxicity of 6 Chemical-Warfare Agents (CWA) and 5 Warfare Toxins (WT). It evaluates the risk potential of each compound for drinking water supplies and consumers. With regard to toxicity on the one side plus cheapness and easiness of availability on the other side, VX and sulfur mustard present the highest risk potential among the CWA, whereas Ricin, Abrin and the Botulinum Toxins seem to contain the highest risk potential within the group of Warfare Toxins. Reproductive toxins (living microbial agents; viruses) are not included in this overview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water safety has always been of the highest priority however communities and the water industry are now engaging in how to develop a specific program for water security. In particular, research is needed on new analytical methods which can address water contaminants of concern and an improved understanding of the risks. There are a number of disease causing microorganisms which have characteristics that would facilitate their use as agents for terrorist type of activities or as biological weapons. The prevention and control of these potential biological agents of concern (BAC) requires an understanding of the ways bacteria, viruses and parasites are spread. The scientific mathematical calculations support an amount in grams depending on where the contamination takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbiological agents can appear in the drinking water network by accidental events like breaking the pipe and the drinking water can be contaminated with sewage or contaminated soil, or neglected procedure and handling of water treatment plant and pipe system. On the other hand bioterrorism should be considered when different biological agents like viruses, bacteria, rickettsia, fungi, toxins, chimeras and prions can be used as biological weapons. If producing biological weapons is supported by governments like in the period of cold war this term of production can be regulated and controlled by international contracts, agreements. But nowadays the main threat is bioterrorism when agreements are ineffective. The primary goal of terrorism is to erode the security of a nation, to disrupt the continuity of society, and to destroy the nation's social capital - its morale, cohesion, and values. In case only the international collaboration can decrease the efficiency of bioterrorism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme water pollution is a severe environmental accident, endangering the local or even regional safety of human community and of the entire environment as well. Adequate awareness and preparedness to respond to such emergency situations must be reached in all strata of population. Developing a national training and education strategy is the responsibility of all level authorities. Training and education endeavors must offer basic knowledge about epidemiology, prevention and control measures to be taken efficiently and promptly. Training must be addresses to all individuals having direct responsibility for protecting the environment, who may affect the environment in the performance of their job, or who have overall responsibility for environmental performance. Education or training has to ensure such individuals could meet their environmental responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, the common symbol of humanity, valued and respected in all religions and cultures, has also become a symbol for social equity. Common ethical principles in water use and water management should be accepted as applicable in all geographies, in all stages of economic development and for all time. We need to recognize that in implementing these principles there can and will be different strategies and methods, which will be appropriate for different situations. However, the ethical principles, which inform such policies, will be consistent throughout the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main concern of the paper is to actualize water uses ethics among various stakeholders in the Arab region. The approach is cultural, that is propagating social learning and have "bottom-up" education and communication functions, as well as "top down" high level applied research aspects with industry and technology participation. The paper examines the key factors in the Arab water crisis, and assesses the progress made in implementing initiatives, programs of action based on the "Arab water vision" 2025, and how best water ethics could contribute to its realization? The central question is how we, as Arabs, can set in motion a process that actualizes our vision? And applying new tools and techniques based on participation of relevant stakeholders in decision making, knowledge and experience transfer among water institutions and organization, and through benchmarking and bench-learning of best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption behaviour of three substituted nitrophenols, 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), on different type natural materials, yellow/white bentonite, expanded perlite, perlite insulation filter, zeolite, and on the biosorbent Rhizopus oryzae was studied. The experimental results were analyzed on the basis of the effect of nitrophenol removal, E, calculated from the kinetic curves, as well as on the basis of the values of the equilibrium adsorption capacity, qmax. According to the equilibrium and kinetic data, the adsorption capacity of the studied materials follows the order: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface water and groundwater compartments are of a particular interest for public health due to their use for drinking purposes. The extensive use of pesticides in agriculture can entail risks of contamination of these two specific compartments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the paper is increasing food safety through the improvement of the drinking water quality used in processing and distribution of food products. Provide water that is safe and adequate from the perspectives of technological requirements in every stage of food processing/distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work has been attempted to show actual and potential danger of contamination of drinking water by bacteria and chemicals that may occur due to the act of terrorists or due to environmental pollution by toxic chemicals. Whatever it is, the consequences of such an emergency will have devastating effect on the health and life of the general population and its most vulnerable groups, women, children aging people, to say nothing of reproductive health which will also be at great risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sustainable agricultural systems characterised by technologies and strategies of crop protection able to safeguard the groundwater resources and aquatic ecosystems has become one of the themes of the modern agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Drought in the period 1982-1994 had its natural influence on the amount of water resources in Bulgaria. The negative consequences of this process influenced all spheres of the social and economical life in the country, including those important for the Public Health, especially drinking water supply. Bulgaria is a country with limited water resources, which requires a clever management and balance of the available water reserve. The lack of professional management approach during the dry period, led to an abrupt and large-scaled collapse in the water supply system in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although for practical reasons, terrorist attacks on water systems are considered less likely than on other targets, threats to drinking water cannot be ignored. A large-scale chemical sabotage of drinking water, even insufficient to cause casualties, could still have disastrous socio-economical consequences. There is therefore a need to maintain a high-level of security around water treatment and distribution facilities, especially those supplying critical infrastructures, and to develop emergency preparedness programs at both the local and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently acts of terrorism are directed against the peace population, and for this purpose are used explosive, poison gases, there was more accessible a biological and chemical weapon. This problem to become more actual in conditions of the terrorism connected to an opportunity of use for these drinking of water sources. Especially vulnerable group are pregnant women. In conditions falling of birth rate and high death rate in Russia the problem of protection of reproductive health of the population is the major direction of the state policy determining national safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, the specificity of water resources, namely, the fact that not all the quantity used in the production processes is actually consumed, results in the return of an important part to the source, with damaged quality parameters, which in its turn is the water source for downstream users. The management of industrial and urban wastewaters is far from satisfactory, and require rehabilitation and development measures, while less than 50% of the population is connected to the public sewage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morocco faces a serious challenge in terms of water resources management over the near- and medium-terms, both in terms of quantity and quality. The quality of superficial and groundwater resources are currently affected by i.) pollution from rejected domestic and industrial wastewater, ii.) leakage of fertilizers and phytosanitary products and iii.) soils erosion and transport of sediments. A new water law has been promulgated in 1995. It provides a comprehensive framework for integrated water management. This new law constitutes an efficient juridical tool to develop more considerable efforts for water use and mobilization in order to make them compatible with aspirations of socio-economic development of Morocco in the 21 century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality in Czech watercourses has improved significantly in the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water management and impact of water related hazards on health were investigated. Although some aspects of water quality and supply have improved over the last decade, progress has been variable. Anthropogenic pressure on water resources affect health and water born diseases occur throughout country. The rural and socially excluded populations are especially vulnerable to water related hazards. To improve the situation with regard to water resources, the following issues need to be addressed: (a) the overall poor quality of water resources, (b) the supply of drinking water to the rural population in accordance with established standards and (c) watershed protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the pollution sources and levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Bulgaria and other countries is performed. Acceptable limits in different media are compared with the existing levels. At present PCBs are a problem more as by-products of different combustion processes. The need for additional studies is underlined concerning the environmental and health long term effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper relates the occurrences of Harmful Algae Blooms episodes in Western Mediterranean countries. This phenomenon appears to have increased in frequency, intensity and geographic distribution. The impacts of such events have reached whole countries maritime borderers' in this region, by the proliferation of numerous harmful algae species producing various type of marine biotoxins and probably the azaspiracid (AZP) that start to make one's appearance in Ireland the last few years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since groundwater represents a capital resource of drinking water in many countries, there is a growing public concern with contamination of groundwater aquifers by different health relevant chemicals. Based on an expected ability of autochthonous microbial populations and other natural factors over time to bring about reduction or even elimination of health hazard for humans and animals, natural attenuation might stand for remedy of aquifers and other contaminated sites. To be effective in transformation or degradation of chemicals, microorganisms indigenous to groundwater should be capable of resisting to chemical pollutants, above all. In our laboratory experiments, microorganisms indigenous to an unpolluted deep groundwater aquifer were enriched, and in portions, the microbial biomass obtained was exposed to different organic chemicals in samples of groundwater. The effect of the chemicals on the size of biomass (ATP contents), and metabolic activities (dehydrogenase, and respiratory activity) was measured. The results indicate toxic effects to be predominantly caused by very high concentrations of the chemicals, sometimes even near to the full water saturation capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greater and greater demand is needed to detect and identify the new emerging biological agents in drinking water supply. The so called indicator organisms like bacteria (E. coli, coliform bacteria etc.) often do not indicate the real danger for human health because of their higher sensitivity to chlorination for e.g. The other pathogen organisms like Cryptosporidia, Giardia, Cyanobacteria and their toxins, viruses, Legionella, fungi have higher resistance in other words lower sensitivity to chlorine. So some water borne disease can emerge beside the indicator parameters are satisfying. A case study in Hungary could prove this. Calicivirus caused outbreak in two villages spreading by the network of potable water. There are some indicators in legislation used in Hungary with similar sensitivity like pathogens to point out the possibility of occurrence of pathogens. These organisms are not pathogens but their appearance indicate the neglected condition of the network and the procedure of treatment plant. On the other hand the organisms can be used for detecting hazards like chemicals, genotoxic agents etc. Two technical workshops were organised on Toxicity for Biodefense in Oregon State University, USA and University of Pecs, Hungary. Both of the workshops were organised on the idea that each participant/group brought everything that were needed to carry out toxicity bioassay(s). All participants were given identical samples, and results were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life on this planet is dependent on water but our health is greatly impacted by the quality of that water. The global water crisis is clear, one only needs to quote the statistics on the billions of people without access to safe water, sanitation and the global estimates of the burden of waterborne disease. The greatest sources of biological contaminants associated with this disease burden in water remains human and animal feces. There is a critical need to develop a science-based program to address both water quantity and quality of water, water uses and discharges. Recommendations to achieve better access to scientific information for decision making include: 1) develop watershed approaches for determining the source and the behaviour of water-borne biological contaminants which can be used within Water Safety Plans, 2) utilize new tools and technologies for measuring the hazards and the exposure within a risk assessment framework and 3) develop a global data base and goals for biological contaminant loading for achieving safe water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directive 91/414/CEE (1991), concerning the placing on the market of plant protection products, states evaluation criteria to assure that no harmful effect on human or animal health and no unacceptable influence on the environment occur after pesticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment concept was developed accordingly to the claims of "Vorsorge" (precaution) of the drinking water hygiene, which authorise a prospective evaluation of potential environmental contamination. The problematic is represented by the example of military contaminated sites in Germany and generalised by an adequate and extensive system of assessment for soils and waters. Over the description of substance properties of the environmental contaminants, values of substance characteristics (SC-Values) will be calculated. The combination of different values of substance characteristics shows a potential exposition and health risk over the drinking water path. The identification of hazards is presented, in a second step, with explicit health related guidance values (GV) and in form of measure values (short term health related guidance values GVSE)1 in the context of human toxicological assessments. Another approach is the calculation of permissible bearable maximum concentrations (BMC) through an aqua toxicological evaluation. With these two concentrations - the human-tox and the aqua-tox derivated - values, one can decide on the fact whether the chemical quality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2002-2003, studies were performed in concern of persistent organic pollutants: DDT, HCH, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in open water basins of Armenia.Main goal of the study was to trace their fate in such specific media as surface waters. Samples of water were taken from the Lake Sevan and rivers Argichi, Arpa, Debet, Gavaraget, Hrazdan, Karchaghbyur, Pambak, Vardenik, Voghchi, and Vorotan. Analyses were performed by means of gas chromatography. Research findings indicate that in samples taken from rivers, at which hydro power plants are functioning, the content of PCBs is extremely high, as compared to the levels of HCH and DDT. This signifies that PCBs are a real problem for Armenia and the energy sector is the main source of PCB-related pollution in rivers of Armenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative human health risk assessment was performed for the evaluation of health threat resulting from the chemical contamination of the soil and groundwater in the area of the former open field pharmaceutical waste burning site. The main aim of the study was the determination of the remediation target-value, in compliance with the No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Hungarian Government Decree on "The protection of groundwaters". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is an important component supporting human life and the natural environment but also media for transmission of chemical and biological pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]