歐盟執委會1月31日宣布一項提案，新增15種化合物列入歐盟水資源法律的優先限制清單之中，其中有6種更列入「重大有害物質」（Priority Substances List）。另外，兩種原本已在限制清單中的物質，也提列為重度有害物質。
列入「重大有害物質」的化合物，必須在20年內完全去除。總計來說，這次執委會一口氣提列了8項物質。
執委會：符合公眾期待
歐盟環境執委波托奇尼克（Janez Potocnik）表示，「水汙染問題是歐盟區公民最關切的環境問題之一。個人對這項進展表示歡迎，因為它與人們的期待相符。這15種增加的化學物質必須進行監控，以確保不會對人類或環境健康構成風險。」
15種新增有害物質中，有6種列入優先觀察項目，提案中要求在20年內停止排放這些物質進入水中。提案中也包含了對4項目前監控中的物質更高的標準，並且要求禁止另外兩種物質的排放。
這是第一次有藥品類物質列入優先去除名單之中。這項提案並未質疑這些藥品的藥用價值，但卻指出這些藥品在水中環境的潛在有害影響。
提案中六種被列入重大有害化學物清單中的化學物為：大克蟎（Dicofol）、快諾芬 （Quinoxyfen）、全氟辛烷磺酸（perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, PFOS）、飛佈達（Heptachlor）、六溴環十二烷（hexabromocyclododecane, HBCD）、戴奧辛、以及戴奧辛類多氯聯苯(Dioxin-Like PCBs)。
另外兩種已在清單中的物質將改列為重大有害物質的是：鄰苯二甲酸二辛酯（DEHP）以及三福林（Trifluralin）。
而原本已在「重大有害物質」清單中的物質，以下幾種未來會套用更嚴格的排放標準，包括：多溴聯苯醚（Brominated diphenylethers）、熒（Fluoranthene）、鎳（Nickel）以及多環芳香烴（Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs）。
所謂「重大有害物質」清單，是指對歐盟地區水域環境會造成「重大風險」的汙染物，依據歐盟《水框架指令》（Water Framework Directive）而設置，目前該清單有33種物質。27個歐盟會員國依法須在指定時間表內，持續偵測這些化學物質在地表水體中的濃度，檢驗是否符合環境品質標準（申請例外獲准者除外）。
歐盟會員國必須將六個新增的重大有害物質、以及兩種新歸類的物質，作為考慮2015年以前制定通過的第二個流域管理計畫（River Basin Management Plans）的參考。他們將確保對新增的化學物質進行監測，並且滿足2021年的環境品質標準。
環團：不滿意
只是，環保人士表示，這項提案對保護人類健康或是歐洲水域環境來說都太薄弱。成員超過140個團體的歐洲最大的環境組織「歐洲環境聯合會」（ European Environmental Bureau，EEB）也表示，這項提案不足以防止有害化學物的汙染。
EEB說，目前針對並限制排放的化學物質太少，而且也不足以保證全歐盟的限制措施可行，能將那些最危險的化合物禁絕。
Fifteen chemicals would be added to a list of priority substances regulated by the EU's water framework law, under a European Commission proposal issued Tuesday. Six of them would be designated as priority hazardous substances that must be phased out within 20 years.
Two substances already on the list would be newly classed as hazardous, requiring their elimination as well.
Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said, "Water pollution is one of the environmental worries most frequently cited by EU citizens. I welcome this advance as it is clearly answering people's expectations. These 15 additional chemicals need to be monitored and controlled to ensure they don't pose a risk to the environment or human health."
For six of the 15 newly identified priority substances, the proposal requires their release to water to be eliminated in 20 years. The proposal also includes stricter standards for four currently controlled substances, and a requirement to phase out the emissions of two others already on the list.
For the first time, pharmaceuticals are proposed for listing as priority substances. The proposal does not question the medicinal value of these substances, but addresses the potential harmful effects of their presence in the aquatic environment.
The six Priority Hazardous Substances in the proposal are: Dicofol, Quinoxyfen, Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, Heptachlor, Hexabromocyclododecane, Dioxin and Dioxin-Like PCBs.
The substances already on the Priority Substances List but which would be subject to stricter standards are: Brominated diphenylethers, Fluoranthene, Nickel, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs.
The two existing substances which would become Priority Hazardous Substances are Diethylhexylphthalate and Trifluralin.
Priority substances are chemical pollutants that pose a "significant risk" to the aquatic environment across the European Union.
There are currently 33 priority substances listed under the Water Framework Directive. The 27 EU Member States have to monitor their concentrations in surface waters and meet the Environmental Quality Standards set for them within a certain timeline, unless they qualify for exemptions.
Member States would have to take all six of the newly listed priority hazardous substances and the two chemicals reclassified as hazardous into account in preparing and implementing their second River Basin Management Plans, which are due to be adopted in 2015. They would have to ensure that the additional substances are monitored, and that Environmental Quality Standards are met by 2021.
Environmentalists say the proposal is too weak to protect human health or European waters.
The European Environmental Bureau, Europe's largest federation of environmental organizations with more than 140 member groups, said the proposal is inadequate to prevent hazardous chemical pollution.
Too few substances have been selected for limitation, said the EEB, and there are insufficient guarantees that the EU-wide measures will be taken to phase out the release of the most dangerous substances.
