WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality

The WHO published the first and second editions of the Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality (Eigure 3.5), in three volumes, in 1984-1985 and in 1993-1997, respectively, and a third edition of Volume 1 was published in 2004 (Section 9.2.1.2). The publications are available to the public at the WHO Water Sanitation and Health Web site (WHO 2007a). 

Toxicological Risk Assessments of Chemicals A Practical Guide 

FIGURE 3.4 Examples of monographs from the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and from the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) published by the WHO. 

Constituent or characteristic Unit Guideline value Remarks 

In assessing the quality of drinking-water, the consumer relies completely upon his senses. Water constituents may affect the appearance, smell, or the taste of the water and the consumer will evaluate the quality and the 

The primary aim of the Guidelines for drinking-water quality is the protection of public health and thus the elimination, or reduction to a minimum of constituents of water that are known to be hazardous to the health and wellbeing of the community. 

The relative priorities assigned to the many substances for which guideline values are given later in this book will depend on local circumstances. Some guideline values, e.g., for colour and pH, are not related directly to health, but have been applied widely and successfully over many years to ensure the wholesomeness of water. 

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WHO (2004) Dialkyltins in drinking water. Background document for the development of WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality. Geneva, World Health Organization (WHO/SDEA/VSH/ 03.04/109 http //vwvw.vvho.int/water sanitation health/dwq/ chemicals/dialkyltins.pdf). 

FIGURE 3.S WHO air quality guidelines for Europe and WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality. 

MI1 World Health Organisation (WHO), Rolling Revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, 1,4-Dioxane... 

WHO, Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, 2nd ed., addendum to Vol. 1, Recommendations, WHO, Geneva, 1998. 

The criteria for including specific chemicals in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (WHO, 2004 WHO, 2006) are any of the following ... 

Health-based targets for chemicals (e.g, the guideline values in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality - WHO, 2004 WHO, 2006) are concentrations that would generally not have a negative health impact if consumed over a lifetime. Therefore, the likelihood of a particular chemical occurring at concentrations that would cause health impacts is the most appropriate indicator that the chemical may be of concern in such situations. 

As discussed above, for risk management purposes, priority should be assigned to specific chemicals on the basis of site-specific assessments. However, it is also important to pay particular attention to chemicals that have been found in many locations worldwide to present serious human health hazards due to exposure through drinking-water. These chemicals are mentioned below and are discussed in greater detail in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (WHO, 2004 WHO, 2006). 

World Health Organization (WHO), Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, 2 edn., Vol. 1—Recommendations, Geneva, 1993. 

FAO PLANT PRODUCTION PROTECTION PAPER, 20 SUP.,, 1979 lARC MONOGRAPH, SUPPL.4.133, 1982 WHO GUIDELINES FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY, 2,, 1984 FAO PLANT PRODUCTION PROTECTION PAPER, 99, 33, 1989 FAO PLANT PRODUCTION PROTECTION PAPER. 100,199,1990 FAO PLANT PRODUCTION PROTECTION PAPER, 100/2, 141, 1990 IPCS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRITERIA, 124,, 1991 IPCS HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDE. 54.. 1991... 

WHO GUIDELINES FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY, 2, 1984 IPCS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRITERIA, S3., 1986... 

World Health Organization (2005) Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in drinking-water, backgroimd document for development of WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality. WHO/SDE/WSH/05.08/122... 

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