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Effects and Global Diversity of Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
Summary
Emerging contaminants including microplastics, PFAS, and pharmaceuticals are widely distributed in drinking water globally, with conventional treatment methods inadequate to remove many of them and significant regulatory gaps in low- and middle-income nations. Advanced treatment technologies and sustainable approaches like biochar adsorption and bioremediation show promise but require stronger policy frameworks to achieve meaningful protection.
Emerging contaminants (ECs) in drinking water constitute an escalating global challenge due to their extensive occurrence, persistence, and detrimental impacts on human health and aquatic life. This chapter thoroughly reviews the assessment of the distribution, diversity, and implications of ECs including personal care products, pharmaceuticals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, industrial chemicals, microplastics among others across diverse socio-economical and geographical settings. It draws attention to notable disparities in the regulatory and prevalence mechanisms between developed and developing regions, highlighting the difficulties that are associated with insufficient monitoring systems in many low- and middle-income nations. The chapter also reviews conventional water treatment practices such as coagulation, filtration, and chlorination, noting their shortcomings in effectively removing numerous ECs. It also examines advanced treatment techniques, including oxidation processes, membrane filtration, and biochar adsorption, which show significant potential for improved contaminant mitigation. Policy initiatives from World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) are analyzed to reveal enforcement weaknesses and persistence gaps worldwide. Emerging and sustainable approaches, such as bioremediation, green chemistry, and citizen science-based monitoring, are recognized as essential complements to technological solutions. Moreover, this review identifies essential research needs, including mixture toxicity evaluation, long-term exposure effects, and the harmonization of detection protocols, while advocating for the integration of EC monitoring into comprehensive water safety plans. The chapter aims to guide researchers, decision-makers, and stakeholders in achieving safe and sustainable drinking water amid the complexities posed by emerging contaminants.