The Water Environment Federation® (WEF®) defines microconstituents as natural and manmade substances, including elements and inorganic and organic chemicals, detected within water and the environment, for which a prudent course of action is suggested for the continued assessment of the potential effect on human health and the environment. These compounds include, but are not limited to, endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). They may be present in the environment due to natural processes or to human influence.

This Technical Practice Update (TPU), one in a series covering issues surrounding microconstituents, provides information on potential source control measures to reduce the presence of microconstituents in surface water bodies. Source control measures seek to reduce or eliminate pollution where it originates to protect various environmental matrices, including surface water bodies and groundwater aquifers. Published by WEF. 2007. Electronic download. 26 pages.

KEYWORDS: Pharmaceuticals; Prescription Recycling; Phthalates; Bisphenol-A; Nonylphenol; Antibacterial Agents; Pesticides; Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE)