Zero-tolerance policy limitations

A completely different approach is followed by the EU for the management of xenobiotics in drinking water and, in particular, of pesticides. The EU has applied a policy of zero tolerance toward the presence of pesticides in drinking water since 1980. At that time it adopted a policy establishing the maximum acceptable level of pesticides in drinking water at the concentration of 0.1 (xg/1 in Directive 80/778/EEC (EEC Council Directive, 1980). This is taken as a practically zero level of tolerance, considering the analytical detection limit for most pesticides at the time of promulgation of the Directive. 

Perhaps because driving skills deteriorate below the 80 mg/ 100 ml level, some countries have set lower levels for the drink-drive limit. In Brazil, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovakia, Barbados, Japan and many Middle Eastern and African countries, there is a policy of zero tolerance. Guyana has set the limit at 10 mg/100 ml, China and Poland at 20 mg/... 

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