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Understanding emerging contaminants in water and wastewater: A comprehensive review on detection, impacts, and solutions
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This review covers emerging contaminants in water including pharmaceuticals, PFAS, microplastics, and nanomaterials that escape conventional water treatment and persist in the environment. It evaluates advanced detection techniques and newer treatment methods such as membrane filtration, advanced oxidation, and bioremediation to address these pollutants that pose ongoing risks to public health.
• Rising water demand and wastewater challenges necessitate advanced treatment. • Emerging contaminants pose new risks to health and the environment. • Increasing focus on unregulated chemicals in water treatment processes. • Global efforts intensify to monitor and regulate emerging contaminants. • Need for innovative technologies to detect and remove emerging contaminants. Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, and nanomaterials, are increasingly detected in water, soil, and air, raising serious environmental and public health concerns. These pollutants originate from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and wastewater effluents, often escaping conventional treatment methods. Their persistence, bioaccumulative nature, and potential toxicity highlight the urgent need for effective monitoring and management strategies. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the occurrence, detection, and environmental impacts of ECs while evaluating current treatment technologies and regulatory frameworks. It explores the latest advancements in analytical techniques that enhance EC detection, discusses the challenges of their removal through conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and examines alternative remediation methods such as advanced oxidation processes, membrane filtration, adsorption, and bioremediation. Additionally, this study assesses existing regulatory efforts, identifying key gaps that hinder effective pollution control. Tackling the risks posed by ECs requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates scientific research, technological innovation, and policy reform. Strengthening global regulations, improving wastewater treatment strategies, and increasing public awareness are essential steps toward mitigating EC contamination. Future research should focus on practical applicability of sustainable remediation technologies, long-term ecological risk assessments, and standardized monitoring guidelines to ensure water security and protect both ecosystems and human health.
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Researchers review the evolving landscape of water contaminants — including microplastics, pharmaceutical residues, and endocrine disruptors — examining their health impacts across vulnerable populations and evaluating mitigation approaches from advanced filtration and nanotechnology to regulatory policy frameworks.
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