Overview of Emerging Contaminants and Associated Human Health Effects

Abstract

In recent decades, because of significant progress in the analysis and detection of trace pollutants, emerging contaminants have been discovered and quantified in living beings and diverse environmental substances; however, the adverse effects of environmental exposure on the general population are largely unknown. This review summarizes the conclusions of the comprehensive epidemic literature and representative case reports relevant to emerging contaminants and the human body to address concerns about potential harmful health effects in the general population. The most prevalent emerging contaminants include perfluorinated compounds, water disinfection byproducts, gasoline additives, manufactured nanomaterials, human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, and UV-filters. Rare but statistically meaningful connections have been reported for a number of contaminants and cancer and reproductive risks. Because of contradictions in the outcomes of some investigations and the limited number of articles, no significant conclusions regarding the relationship between adverse effects on humans and extents of exposure can be drawn at this time. Here, we report that the current evidence is not conclusive and comprehensive and suggest prospective cohort studies in the future to evaluate the associations between human health outcomes and emerging environmental contaminants.

Measuring Human Water Needs

“…Emerging contaminants are substances with a perceived impact on human or environmental health, but without any published health criteria. These substances include perfluorinated compounds, water disinfection byproducts, gasoline additives, pharmaceutical metabolites, and nanoparticles (Lei et al, ), as well as microplastics (Richardson & Kimura, ), plasticizers, pesticides, whitening agents, hormones, x‐ray contrast media, artificial sweeteners, and flame retardants (Pal, He, Jekel, Reinhard, & Gin, ). The number of regulated chemical pollutants, for example, is now but a tiny fraction of all the anthropogenic chemicals present in the environment (Daughton, ).…”

Functionalized Inorganic Nanoparticles for Magnetic Separation and SERS Detection of Water Pollutants

“…In particular, antibiotics are among the most prescribed drugs for humans and animals. In order to assess their occurrence in natural waters and environmental risks, several studies have been carried out . About 10 5 tons of antibiotics produced annually are used in agriculture and health care.…”

Green technology: A step towards clean environment

“…Literature review endorsed that ECs exposure becomes a cause of serious threats such as mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, as well as teratogenicity to human beings and other animals. 5 In addition, the persistent nature of some ECs in the environment with a span of more than 1 year becomes a cause for bioaccumulation in organisms, which ultimately reaches up to biologically active levels. 6 In fact, we are not able to control the exposure of ECs effectively.…”