Compliance and Workflows: European Water Framework Directive

Many chemicals produced by human industrial activities have a negative impact on the aquatic environment, even at extremely low concentrations. To measure such an effect, many environmental chemists aim to develop analytical methodologies that can identify a substance at the intended Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) level in complex environmental matrices, including biota. For this reason, the directive 2013/39/EU introduced in August 2013 provides a strategy to monitor pollution of water and biota for European Union member states. This strategy involves the identification of priority substances that pose a significant risk to the aquatic environment. This guide provides an overview of the different compounds to be monitored as well as potential analysis methods.