Challenges and future directions in the analysis of emerging pollutants in aqueous environments.

Abstract

New emerging analytes are always made and discharged into any of the environmental compartments, including freshwaters where they cause pollution. It has always been difficult to cope with a wide range of these emerging pollutants with different chemistries. Emerging contaminants have widely been detected in water bodies and there is a high possibility of them being ingested by aquatic animals. More so, most emerging pollutants end up in wastewater treatment plants where, unfortunately, they are released into the environment as these facilities are not designed to remove emerging pollutants. Discharge of emerging pollutants into freshwater bodies will not slow down in the foreseeable future as industrialization and urbanization continue. The animal and environmental health and effects of these emerging pollutants are not immediately known until the new emerging pollutants have been detected and quantified, which itself is a challenge to scientists as the physicochemical properties need to be established first. Even crucial regulatory parameters such as the maximum allowable limits are not immediately established for emerging pollutants. This concluding chapter aims to spell out more challenges that are faced regarding the handling and analysis of various emerging pollutants.