<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Certain contaminants are termed as emerging (Contaminants of Emerging Concern, CEC) since all aspects of these pollutants are not known and their regulation is not ununiform across the nations. The CECs include many classes of compounds that are used in various industries, plant protection chemicals, personal care products and medicines. They accumulate in waterbodies, soils, organisms including humans. They cause deleterious effects on plant animal and human health. Therefore, alternative greener synthesis of these chemicals, sustainable economic methods of waste disposal, scaling up and circular methods using sludge for removing the contaminants are innovative methods that are pursued. There are several improvements in chemical waste treatments using electro-oxidation coupled with solar energy, high performing recycled granular activated charcoal derived from biomass are few advances in the field. Similarly, use of enzymes from microbes for waste removals is a widely used technique for bioremediation. The organisms are genetically engineered to remove hazardous chemicals, dyes, and metals. Novel technologies for mining economically the precious and rare earth elements from e-waste can improve circular economy. However, there is additional need for participation of various nations in working towards greener Earth. There should be pollution awareness in local communities that can work along with Government legislations.</p>
</abstract>

Certain contaminants are termed as emerging (Contaminants of Emerging Concern, CEC) since all aspects of these pollutants are not known and their regulation is not ununiform across the nations. The CECs include many classes of compounds that are used in various industries, plant protection chemicals, personal care products and medicines. They accumulate in waterbodies, soils, organisms including humans. They cause deleterious effects on plant animal and human health. Therefore, alternative greener synthesis of these chemicals, sustainable economic methods of waste disposal, scaling up and circular methods using sludge for removing the contaminants are innovative methods that are pursued. There are several improvements in chemical waste treatments using electro-oxidation coupled with solar energy, high performing recycled granular activated charcoal derived from biomass are few advances in the field. Similarly, use of enzymes from microbes for waste removals is a widely used technique for bioremediation. The organisms are genetically engineered to remove hazardous chemicals, dyes, and metals. Novel technologies for mining economically the precious and rare earth elements from e-waste can improve circular economy. However, there is additional need for participation of various nations in working towards greener Earth. There should be pollution awareness in local communities that can work along with Government legislations.

Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Occurrence and Remediation

Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences

Department of Nanotechnology Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya

Chemistry-Didactics-Ecology-Metrology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Occurrence and Remediation"}

Certain contaminants are termed as emerging (Contaminants of Emerging Concern, CEC) since all aspects of these pollutants are not known and their regulation is...

Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Occurrence and Remediation

Published Online: Jan 25, 2024

Page range: 57 - 77

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cdem-2023-0004

Keywords
contaminants of emerging concern, health hazards, chemical waste disposal, sludge and water treatments, bioremediation, engineered organisms

© 2023 Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Occurrence and Remediation

Published Online: Jan 25, 2024

Page range: 57 - 77

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cdem-2023-0004

Keywordscontaminants of emerging concern, health hazards, chemical waste disposal, sludge and water treatments, bioremediation, engineered organisms

© 2023 Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
contaminants of emerging concern, health hazards, chemical waste disposal, sludge and water treatments, bioremediation, engineered organisms