Cross-border control: Ukraine and Poland to jointly monitor border river water, including for hazardous bisphenol A for the first time

For the first time in Ukraine, laboratory analysis of bisphenol A content in river water at the Ukraine-Poland border will be conducted. Bisphenol A is a substance found in plastics that can affect the endocrine, immune, and other bodily systems. This was announced at an international conference on cross-border cooperation in public health, held as part of the joint international WaterWatch project between the Lviv Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Voivodeship Sanitary-Epidemiological Station in Rzeszów, involving over 100 specialists from Ukraine and Poland.

“We recently held a productive meeting with Poland’s Chief Sanitary Inspector, Paweł Grzesiowski, during which we discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in public health. Establishing the exchange of epidemiological information, joint training, and unified response protocols for emergencies at the border are crucial for our shared safety and responsibility. The WaterWatch project is a prime example of effective inter-agency collaboration, enabling us to minimise cross-border health threats,” said Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor, Ihor Kuzin.

As part of the project, water quality will be examined in four cross-border rivers: the Viar and Strviazh on the Ukrainian side, and the Szkło and Wisznia on the Polish side. The research will be conducted by specialists from the Lviv Regional Centre for Disease Control and Prevention under Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with partners from the Sanitary-Epidemiological Station in Rzeszów, Poland. The water will be tested for viruses, bacteria, and chemical substances, including bisphenol A and microcystins. Necessary equipment, reagents, and specialised transport will be procured, and experts will undergo training to use advanced analytical methods.

Bisphenol A is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that, even in low concentrations, can impact human health, including:

• Disrupting the hormonal system,
• Affecting the development of the reproductive, immune, and nervous systems,
• Increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and infertility,
• Potentially contributing to the development of certain cancers.

The accumulation of bisphenol A in drinking water and natural water bodies used for bathing, fishing, or water supply is particularly hazardous.

The data obtained will help assess real public health risks in the border region and develop effective programmes to mitigate cross-border threats. During the conference, leading Ukrainian and Polish experts in epidemiology, laboratory diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and public health presented their reports. The project is funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT Poland-Ukraine 2021–2027 programme.