ABSTRACT
Drinking water abstraction from groundwater can contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from diffuse point sources. Materials in contact with drinking water supplies can be an additional source for EDC contamination. Drinking water is a direct route into the human body and for any EDCs that may be present. Water treatment is the process of cleaning water that will be fit for public use and consumption. Contaminants in water may be of biological or chemical origin, with microorganisms having traditionally been of greatest concern and the driver for standards and regulations. EDCs also are introduced into drinking water supplies via materials in contact with the drinking water. Substances that are used in plastic and other materials for lining drinking water supplies have been implicated as EDCs. The majority of EDCs are highly lipophilic and unlikely to be present in significant quantities in water, tending to sorb to solids present in watercourses.
