[Health hazards from metals in drinking water]

Drinking water is essential for man and cannot be replaced. In the public discussion the quality of drinking water is often presented in a one-sided way. This has led to great sensitivity and insecurity with the result that the intake of drinking water is often regarded as deleterious to human health. In this presentation it is attempted to demonstrate by the example of six metals and semi-metals in which way these substances are transmitted into water, how much the consumption of drinking water contributes to the total uptake, and whether a health risk can be derived from this source.