Fungal contaminants – a paradoxal void in safety regulation of drinking water and recreational areas

Sabino, R.; Novak Babič, M.; Gunde-Cimerman, N.; Veríssimo, C.; Viegas, C.; Várgha, M.; Meyer, W.; Brandão, J.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/4892

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
2017-Mycoses_Poster_Fungal contaminants.pdf		722.46 KB	Adobe PDF	Download
Belgrade_TIMM_2017-MNB-29-9.pdf		144.34 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Abstract(s)

Although exposure to fungi and their metabolites, by inhalation, contact and ingestion has often been addressed, it rarely made way into safety regulation. The EU drinking water directive 98/83/EC and the national legislation in the European countries - with very few exceptions - fails to address fungi explicitly. The same is valid also for European regulatory Directive 2006/7/EC, currently undergoing its second revision with no plan to introduce fungi, yet again. Both Directives address microbiological safety of drinking and bathing / recreational waters by monitoring of bacterial parameters indicating faecal contamination, and correlating with gastro-intestinal illness but leaving behind other microbes and several emerging pathogens and other pathologies. This study assesses the European drinking and bathing water regulations and sand; it evaluates background information, and underpinning missing fungal parameters that (may) affect human health.