Chemical hazards in drinking-water - nitrobenzene
Rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
Nitrobenzene is included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. The background document and a summary statement for the 4th Edition are now available.
Background
Nitrobenzene has not been evaluated in the GDWQ. The GDWQ FTF meeting (Geneva, 2003) recommended that a background document on nitrobenzene be prepared based on Environmental Health Criteria (EHC) 230, published in 2003. The coordinator of industrial sources has reviewed the EHC.
Expected end-product(s)
Background document and summary statement for the Fourth Edition.
Progress to date
The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2004) decided that a background document could not be prepared, as data were inadequate to determine a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for humans for the end-point of concern (methaemoglobinaemia) and there are no data on occurrence of nitrobenzene in drinking-water. The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2005) determined that nitrobenzene does occur in some drinking-water, although at low levels. The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2006) agreed to prepare a background document on nitrobenzene for inclusion in the Fourth Edition. The GDWQ WG meeting (Berlin, 2007) agreed that the background document could undergo the review process once revisions suggested at the meeting had been taken into consideration. The GDWQ WG meeting (Singapore, 2008) agreed that the revised document should be sent for peer and public review.