We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Systematic review of emerging environmental contaminants: sources, environmental fate, and impacts
AI summary Read the abstract
This review pulls together existing research on "emerging contaminants" — things like forever chemicals (PFAS), leftover medications, microplastics, and hormone-disrupting substances that build up in our water, soil, and food chains. The takeaway: these pollutants don't break down easily, accumulate in living things over time, and have been linked to hormone disruption, cell damage, and antibiotic resistance, yet current safety testing and regulations haven't caught up to the scale of the problem. For consumers, this underscores why reducing exposure to plastics and unnecessary chemical products matters, and why stronger monitoring and regulation are
Objectives: This review aimed to synthesize recent advances in the understanding of emerging contaminants (ECs), including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, microplastics and nanoplastics, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and engineered nanomaterials. It critically assessed their sources, environmental pathways, transformation mechanisms, and ecological and human health impacts, while identifying knowledge gaps and future research priorities. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework. Peer-reviewed research articles and critical reviews were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Emphasis was placed on studies that used advanced analytical techniques, including high-resolution mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and biosensor-based detection methods. Results: The findings indicated that ECs are characterized by high environmental persistence, complex transformation pathways, bioaccumulation, and trophic transfer potential. Reported impacts included endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, antimicrobial resistance, and ecological imbalance. Across global environmental compartments, these pollutants pose long-term risks to ecosystems and human health. Their distinctive partitioning behavior and environmental persistence challenge standard ecological assessment frameworks and underscore the need for comprehensive toxicological evaluations and robust regulatory oversight to mitigate long-term biological accumulation and adverse physiological effects in aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Conclusion: This review highlights the urgent need for improved regulatory frameworks, standardized monitoring approaches, and sustainable remediation strategies for ECs. By integrating advanced analytical methods, computational tools, and circular economy principles, the review provides a timely contribution to environmental science and policy and supports informed decision-making for environmental protection and public health.
More Papers Like This
The Fate and Effects of Emerging Pollutants in the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Everyday chemicals from medicines, personal care products, pesticides, and plastics—including microplastics and "forever chemicals" (PFAS)—are slipping through our wastewater systems and building up in water, soil, and even our food chain, largely unchecked by current regulations. This review of existing research shows these pollutants can disrupt hormones, help harmful bacteria become drug-resistant, and harm wildlife and ecosystems that humans ultimately depend on. The takeaway: better treatment technology and stronger environmental regulations are needed to keep these under-the-radar chemicals from continuing to accumulate in
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in aquatic and terrestrial environments: Sources, impacts, and remediation strategies
AI summary Read the abstract
This review pulls together research on "emerging contaminants"—things like leftover medications, PFAS "forever chemicals," pesticides, and microplastics—that are increasingly showing up in our water and soil from everyday sources like factories, farms, and household waste. These pollutants build up over time and are linked to health risks, but current water treatment systems often aren't equipped to fully remove them, meaning we're likely getting low-level exposure through our water supply. The takeaway: stronger pollution controls and better treatment technology are needed to keep these chemicals out of the water we drink and the environment we live in.
A comprehensive review of emerging environmental contaminants of global concern
AI summary Read the abstract
This review comprehensively examined emerging contaminants including pharmaceuticals, PFAS, endocrine disruptors, and micro- and nano-plastics across environmental matrices, discussing their sources, environmental behavior, toxicological effects, and detection techniques. Advanced methods including LC-MS/MS, ELISA, PCR, and biosensors were highlighted as essential for identifying and quantifying these substances, with ECs implicated in endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance, and bioaccumulation threatening food safety and public health.
Emerging Pollutants in the Environment. I. Sources, Accumulation, and Ecological Implications
AI summary Read the abstract
This review characterized emerging pollutants including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, pesticides, nanomaterials, and microplastics in environmental compartments, focusing on their persistence and ecological implications. The paper analyzed how these pollutants accumulate in water, soil, air, and biota, disrupting reproductive health, metabolic functions, and biodiversity.
Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water: Implications for Public Health and Water Treatment
AI summary Read the abstract
Your tap water may contain low levels of drug residues, "forever chemicals" (PFAS), microplastics, and other modern pollutants that standard water treatment plants aren't fully designed to remove. This review of existing research finds that while we don't fully understand the long-term health effects, these contaminants have been linked to hormone disruption and antibiotic resistance—and newer filtering technologies that could remove them more effectively remain expensive and aren't widely used yet. The takeaway: better testing, updated regulations, and improved treatment methods are needed to make drinking water safer as science catches up.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.