This plenary focuses on exposures to (emerging) chemicals via the water cycle, the various sources relating to societies use of water and chemicals, pathways, possible health and economic effects and mitigation options. The use of advanced analytical techniques is highlighted, i.e. suspect screening using high resolution mass spectrometry to analyze a broad set of industrial chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and pesticides including their transformation products, and the subsequent prioritization techniques. Also attention will be given to the analysis of nanoparticles such as nanoplastics, including field flow fractionation techniques. In addition to these analytical techniques, modelling techniques using water and land uses to predict water quality are highlighted and examples of predictions are given based on communal and industrial emissions. The interpretation of health risks using in vitro and in vivo toxicity data, including generalizations such as the use of thresholds of toxicological concern (TTC) to assess risks when scarce data are available, is discussed with a focus on relatively polar substances that are hard to remove using water treatment technologies. Also possibilities posed by epidemiological techniques using big data health statistics combined with spatiotemporal information on water quality are reviewed. Some examples are provided from the way data water quality data can feed epidemiological analyses, using sewer epidemiological approaches. As in water because of the integration typically complex environmental mixtures occur, some attention is paid to the used of effect-directed triggers compared with triggers based on concentrations of individual substances. The risks of new and emerging technologies and ways to manage and prevent these risks will be described, using examples form nanotechnology and new technologies for oil and gas. The awareness of these risks by technology developers can be enlarged by risk and technology assessment, ultimately in support of the technology development and its acceptance by society. Finally mitigation science in combination with exposure science is elaborated, connecting the water cycle and the chemical life cycle. Mitigation options can be assessed by coupling emissions, exposure and effects in hydrological models. A solution-focused and systems-oriented perspective combined with a mitigation database can offer a common perspective amongst relevant actors, inform policy making and stimulate cross-sectoral learning. Finally, the plenary will conclude seeking parallels between aqueous exposure science and other environmental exposures.
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