Occurrence and Fate of Emerging Pollutants in Water Environment and Options for Their Removal

Abstract

Emerging pollutants (EPs) are chemicals known to cause major impacts on the terrestrial, aquatic life and human health as a result of their chronic and acute toxicity. Although lots of studies on EPs behavior in the aquatic environment are currently available in literature, an urgent requirement exists to complete toxicological studies and develop and implement efficient and ecological methods for their removal. This paper raises some relevant problems related to water environment pollution with EPs, the risks they can generate for aquatic life and humans and opportunities to reduce the effects of pollution by EPs removal. Categories of emerging chemicals of concern in the environment, their sources, fate and impacts, with some examples are discussed. Organic UV filters are shortly presented as a relative new EPs category, with a focus on the need to develop extensive experimental studies on their environmental occurrence, fate and removal. Furthermore, sources for the aquatic environment resulting from discharging EPs directly into rivers from wastewater treatment plants are examined. The incidence of environmental and human health risks related to EPs is also considered. The removal of EPs from the environment as a solution to risk mitigation is addressed, with emphasis on several non-conventional processes involving biological removal of EPs. The paper provides a critical look at the current challenges posed by the presence of emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment, with critical comments and recommendations for further research to reduce the impact of EPs on water and human health and improve the performance of developed methods for their removal.

Using Pressure-Driven Membrane Processes to Remove Emerging Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions

“…In this research, two salt solutions were used: sodium chloride and magnesium chloride. To determinate the selectivity of the different membranes, the rejection coefficient was established using Equation (1).…”

“…Among these substances, there are compounds that are difficult to degrade due to their complex structure, which makes them stable and, consequently, poorly biodegradable. These compounds are called emerging pollutants [1].…”

A Review on Emerging Pollutants in the Water Environment: Existences, Health Effects and Treatment Processes

“…Table 1. Emerging pollutants groups and their major compounds [9][10][11] (Reprinted by permission). Water resources quality has deteriorated due to contamination caused by urbanization, rapid population growth, agricultural activities, and industrial development [12].…”

“…Heavy metals, microbial pollutants, priority contaminants, and nutrients are the most commonly studied aspects of water quality. Nonetheless, recent research [11,13] revealed the presence of organic pollutants that have a significant impact on water parameters. The main issue with EPs is a lack of understanding about their long-term effects on aquatic life, the environment, and human health.…”

Special Issue: Environmental Fate of Contaminants in the Aquatic Environment

“…A review on emerging pollutants (EPs), sources for aquatic environment (e.g., wastewater treatment plants) and major impacts on biota and human health is reported by Vasilachi and co-authors [9]. The paper raises some relevant problems related to water environment pollution with EPs (e.g., UV filters), the risks they can generate for aquatic life and humans and opportunities to reduce the effects of pollution by their removal.…”