Contaminants of Emerging Concern
About the Program
Background/History
A 2009 law (Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 172, Article 2, Section 7) allocates funds “for addressing public health concerns related to contaminants found in Minnesota drinking water for which no health-based drinking water standard exists.” To achieve that goal, MDH is using a small portion of the new sales tax funds set aside for water quality to establish a program known as Drinking Water Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC).
Principles
CEC represents a significant change in the way we identify and evaluate chemicals that may threaten the safety of the state’s water supply.
MDH currently provides advice to risk assessors and other interested parties through Health-Based Rules and Guidance for Groundwater. These values have been derived for chemicals that have already been detected in Minnesota groundwater.
Under CEC, MDH will be able to take a more proactive approach to the protection of drinking water. MDH often receives requests for health-based guidance values from risk managers and risk assessors from other state agencies, or from outside government. However, resource limitations require MDH to focus on chemicals that have already been detected in groundwater. Using the funds available under the new amendment, MDH staff will develop health-protective advice values for chemicals that have been detected or have the potential to be detected in Minnesota drinking water. For example, chemicals found in surface water or soil may be reviewed if there is a reasonable expectation that drinking water could be impacted. This distinction separates CEC’s work from MDH’s current work developing health-based advice values through the rulemaking process. To the extent possible, chemicals reviewed under CEC will be subject to the same review process as chemicals undergoing HRL/HBV/RAA review. A chemical reviewed under CEC may be included in rulemaking if found in Minnesota groundwater.
Each chemical review will generate a document describing what is currently known about the chemical’s physical properties, the patterns of its use in Minnesota, the chemical’s potential toxicity to humans, and other information relevant to its potential harm to water quality as it pertains to human health. For more information refer to the program's Chemical Reviews page.
Additionally, MDH has proposed that approximately half of the funds for CEC will be used to contract research on the risks, toxicity or occurrence of contaminants. MDH staff are currently developing research initiatives to support evaluation of contaminants of emerging concern in drinking water. For more information refer to the program's Special Projects page.
For more information on how the CEC program is protecting Minnesota’s water supply, read about the program’s objectives and activities.
To learn more about the progress of the CEC program and see who we have been working with, see the Communications and Outreach page.
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