Evaluation of the Pathway of Contaminants in the Environment: A Case Study of Different Aquatic Environmental Compartments

Abstract

The occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in several environmental compartments has raised significant concern given the extensive array of compounds and their consistent detection across various environmental matrices. Monitoring all potentially harmful compounds and identifying their sources is nearly impossible. However, providing data on their occurrence is crucial and lays the groundwork for decision makers to craft mitigation strategies toward a more sustainable water policy. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to conduct an evaluation study on CECs occurrence in the environment. The main novelty relies on understanding their specific pathway in three different environmental aquatic compartments. For that, a combined study of a systematic review and systemic analysis was performed. Initially, the five most common types of CECs found in aquatic ecosystems (groundwater and surface water) and wastewater were considered. For each group of CECs, five contaminants were identified. A bibliographic portfolio was generated through the application of a systematic review. Finally, a systemic analysis of the bibliographic portfolio was conducted. All classes of contaminants studied were identified in the environmental compartments evaluated. Except for pesticides, the degree of contamination by CECs followed a sequence based on the aquatic compartment (i.e., WW–SW–GW).

Assessing the Impact of Pharmaceutical Contamination in Malaysian Groundwater: Risks, Modelling, and Remediation Strategies

“…Point sources normally refer to identifiable discrete locations or facilities where pharmaceuticals are released directly into the groundwater in a spatially explicit manner. Nonpoint sources are usually diffuse sources of pharmaceuticals that are difficult to track back to their specific location or facility and occur over broad geographical scales [7]. Point sources of pharmaceutical contamination include septic tanks, leachates from landfills, wastewater effluent from pharmaceutical-related industries, medical institutions, and wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) [8].…”