Articles

Zusammenfassung:

Supplying acceptable drinking water to people in many parts of the world presents problems. Even in Europe it raises many difficulties and unknowns. A few decades ago the Rhine was heavily polluted and although this has now been greatly reduced, new problems have come to light. Apart from flooding, a particular matter of concern is the cycle of artificial substances. Avoiding harmful substances has so far always resulted In the introduction of new ones whose environmental impact is as yet little understood and whose damage to the environment can only be established in the course of time. Some of these substances are also detectable in drinking water. Politicians, corporations and people in general need to rethink this issue. In our consumer society we need space for the view that not everything we can produce should be produced, least of all consumed. Obviously we should do without the less important substances which leave a deep environmental footprint. This calls for individual awareness raising and improved public access to information.