Endocrine-disrupting compounds: Occurrence, detection methods, effects and promising treatment pathways-A critical review

The increase in the anthropogenic impact has induced a constant discharge of new substances into the environment. Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) belong to this group of emerging contaminants that began to be widely detected in various water matrices and has drawn attention due to their toxicity. The presence of EDCs in water and wastewater has become a global concern because of the health problems that this class of contaminants could cause in the endocrine system of animals and humans; and the uncertainty around their fate and longlasting effects. Recently, novel advanced analytical technologies have allowed the identification of these compounds and their structures, and therefore the proposition of suitable treatment processes. Here, we review the classification, incidence and impact of EDCs detected in water and wastewater. We also review the detection methods and which treatments processes have been studied by the major publications of the last decade and their future perspectives.

Automated summary

The increase in anthropogenic impact has led to the constant discharge of new substances into the environment, including endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). EDCs have drawn global attention due to their potential health risks to animals and humans' endocrine systems, as well as the uncertainty surrounding their long-term effects. Recent advancements in analytical technologies have allowed for the identification of EDCs and the proposition of suitable treatment processes, with many research publications focusing on detection methods and treatment processes for EDCs over the last decade.