«Emerging contaminants» in water environment: international studies (review)

Summary

The scientific developments over a period of the late 1990-ies up to nowadays in the field of studies of the «emerging contaminants» presence in water environment are considered. Emerging contaminants include mainly pharmaceuticals, illegal drugs, ultraviolet filters, artificial sugar substitutes, biocides, their metabolites and transformation products as well as nanomaterials and micro(nano)-plastics. The progress in this field is now possible owing to the introduction of analytical methods based on liquid chromatography/mass-spectrometry into the laboratory practice. The method provides for identifying and determining polar contaminants in water environment, their metabolites and transformation products at the concentration level of ng/l. The applied mass-spectrometric detectors are characterized by the high sensitivity and selectivity. The improved techniques that provide for the higher efficiency of removing emerging contaminants from wastewater compared to the traditional processes are presented. Modern approaches to the evaluation of the toxicity of the contaminants under consideration in the situations when low concentrations of these substances in mixtures have a long-term impact on non-target organisms are discussed.

Key words

wastewater , aquatic environment , emerging contaminants , liquid chromatography/mass-spectrometry , contaminant transformation products

On the meaning of the term «emerging contaminants»

Summary

The term «emerging contaminants» has been widely used in modern scientific and technical literature on the problem of environmental pollution. Meanwhile, the examples of using translation versions of this term in the Russian-language relevant literature indicate the lack of an adequate understanding of the meaning of this term. In the English-language scientific and technical literature «emerging contaminants» currently refer to the substances and materials of natural, industrial or artificial origin found or presumably present in various environments; and their toxicity or stability can significantly change the metabolism of living beings. These substances have been classified as «emerging contaminants» while there is a lack of information in the scientific literature, or questions about their potential problems have been poorly documented. In general, «emerging contaminants» show certain potential to create risks to the human health or environment; however, they have not been subject to regulatory criteria or standards to protect human health or the environment, so far. What they have in common is the lack of relevant data on the environmental role and potential toxicity, which makes assessing correctly the risks associated with them impossible. Already regulated, presumably well-known pollutants may revert to the status of «emerging contaminants» as and when new scientific information becomes available, prompting regulators to revise regulations and recommendations.

Key words

emerging contaminants , emerging contaminants , organic micropollutants