Recent innovations and challenges in the eradication of emerging contaminants from aquatic systems

Presence of emerging pollutants (EPs), aka Micropollutants (MPs) in the freshwater environments is a severe threat to the environment and human beings. They include pharmaceuticals, insecticides, industrial chemicals, natural hormones, and personal care items and the pollutants are mostly present in wastewater generated from urbanization and increased industrial growth. Even concentrations as low as ngL-1 or mgL-1 have proven ecologically lethal to aquatic biota. For several years, the biodegradation of various Micropollutants (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems has been a significant area of research worldwide, with many chemical compounds being discovered in various water bodies. As aquatic biota spends most of their formative phases in polluted water, the impacts on aquatic biota are obvious, indicating that the environmental danger is substantial. In contrast, the impact of these contaminants on aquatic creatures and freshwater consumption is more subtle and manifests directly when disrupting the endocrine system. Research and development activities are expected to enable the development of ecologically sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient treatments for practical systems in the near future. Therefore, this review aims to understand recent emerging pollutants discovered and the available treatment technologies and suggest an innovative and cost-effective method to treat these EPs, which is sus-tainable and follows the circular bioeconomy.

Automated summary

The presence of emerging pollutants in freshwater environments poses a severe threat to the environment and human beings. These pollutants mainly come from urbanization and increased industrial growth, and their concentration, even at low levels, can be ecologically lethal to aquatic life. Research on the biodegradation of these pollutants has been a significant area of study worldwide, as their impact on aquatic life and freshwater consumption is subtle but significant. This review aims to understand the recent discoveries and available treatment technologies of emerging pollutants, and propose an innovative and cost-effective method for their sustainable treatment.