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Article Tier 2 Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Remediation Sign in to save

Occurrence, sustainable treatment technologies, potential sources, and future prospects of emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: a review

Frontiers in Environmental Science 2024 12 citations

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This review covers emerging contaminants in water, including microplastics, PFAS, antibiotics, and other persistent pollutants, along with the latest treatment technologies for removing them. Methods like membrane filtration, advanced oxidation, and biochar adsorption show promise but each has limitations in real-world application. The review highlights the urgent need for effective water treatment solutions, since these pollutants increasingly contaminate drinking water sources and pose risks to human health.

Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as polyfluorinated compounds, antibiotics, microplastics, and nonylphenol, continue to challenge environmental management practices due to their persistence and bioaccumulation potential. This review articulates the critical pathways and environmental risks posed by these contaminants, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of innovative removal technologies. We spotlight groundbreaking methods that are reshaping the landscape of ECs remediation: membrane filtration technology, constructed wetlands, adsorptive materials, algae-based systems, biological treatments, and advanced oxidation processes. Each method is evaluated for its efficacy in removing ECs, with particular emphasis on sustainability and economic viability. Our findings reveal that integrating these technologies can significantly enhance removal efficiency, offering new directions for environmental policy and practical applications. This article positions these advanced removal technologies at the forefront of the fight against ECs, advocating for their broader adoption to safeguard environmental and public health.

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