Water Sanitation Health

Chemical hazards in drinking-water - beryllium

Rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality

Beryllium is included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.

Background

WHO has received correspondence noting that although the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality state that beryllium is unlikely to be present in drinking-water, over the past 5 years in Europe, geological studies show concentrations ranging from <0.005 to 2.7 µg/litre (median 0.01 µg/litre) across Europe.

Expected end-product(s)

Background document for fourth edition.

Progress to date

The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed on a plan of work.

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