Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Program Activities
Under the CEC program, MDH will evaluate the exposure potential, patterns of use, and toxicity of chemicals from several categories: pesticides, industrial effluents, products that are washed down drains and processed by municipal wastewater treatment plants, and others. Program activities are summarized below and in the Biennial Report: Fiscal Years 2010-2011 (PDF: 484KB/23 pages). The most recent quarterly progress report is also available: CEC Quarterly Report (PDF: 187KB/12 pages).
How are chemicals selected?
Chemicals for review under CEC will be selected by Minnesota risk managers and other interested parties. In the first year of operation, chemicals will be selected based on MDH’s awareness of new information about the occurrence, use, or toxicity of a chemical. In subsequent years, MDH intends to make ongoing chemical selection an open process through which stakeholders can nominate chemicals for review refer to the Nominations web page). In addition, chemical selection criteria are being developed that will be subject to review and revision through the stakeholder process (refer to the Contaminant Screening Criteria and Prioritization Development Task Group). For additional information on selected chemicals, refer to the Chemical Reviews page.
How are reviews conducted?
Reviews of chemicals under CEC will consist of (1) an exposure and toxicity review, documenting the typical uses of the chemical and where releases are likely to occur, e.g., effluent from a certain type of industrial activity, disposal in residential sewer drains, etc.; and (2) a toxicological review, providing the most current information on the adverse health effects from exposure to the chemical. The exposure review will be conducted by MDH staff in coordination with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), and other parties with access to relevant information.
Who is working for this program?
The CEC program is staffed by a team of MDH scientists with experience in exposure assessment, toxicology, and water resources. Some of the positions are being filled by MDH staff transferring from other positions, and others are being filled by new hires. The scientists’ efforts are coordinated by a planner who works closely with other state agencies to ensure that the work done under CEC fits in with the wider water quality protection activities being funded by the 2008 constitutional amendment.
How are stakeholders engaged?
MDH welcomes input from the public, other state agencies, local governmental units, non profit groups, and any other interested party. MDH has conducted meetings with representatives from various local, state, and federal government agencies, academic programs, non-profit groups, industry groups, and drinking water and wastewater professional organizations. For additional information, refer to the Communication and Outreach page.
If you would like to be kept informed of our activities and notified of upcoming public meetings, subscribe to our GovDelivery email subscription service. We typically send out two or three notices per month. You may also contact us via email or telephone if you would like to ask a question or offer information about an emerging contaminant.
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