Over the past decade there has been growing concern regarding the presence of biologically active contaminants including endocrine disrupters, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other substances in the aquatic environment. Emerging contaminants not only include those substances in active or past production, but also include their metabolites and other transformation products and chemical by-products generated during production.
Unlike traditional priority pollutants, many emerging contaminants may not be toxic, persistent or bioaccumulative, but may produce subtle ecological effects, and there is uncertainty surrounding their adverse ecological effects.
Significant advancements in analytical technology have enabled chemists to identify an increasing range of emerging contaminants in the environment and to recognize these at lower levels than previously possible. As a result of these advances, environmental scientists have started to monitor for environmental contaminants in various matrices including land, water and air. Studies carried out around the world are identifying more and more of these compounds in the environment.
A recent study of drinking water undertaken by the U.S. Geological survey and local water authorities in the United States, found pharmaceuticals or their by-products in treated drinking water, including medicines for pain, infection, high cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, mental illness and heart problems. This has arisen where the source water for drinking water treatment has been derived from rivers and other surface water sources that have received a discharge from municipal wastewater treatment plants.
As analytical techniques continue to progress, laboratories will play a key role in identifying which compounds are being released into the environment, establishing baseline levels and participating in studies concentrating on the removal of compounds by new wastewater treatment technologies.
The ecological effects of the presence of very low concentrations of many emerging contaminants in the environment remain unknown and further research is needed to determine their short and long term effects on the environment. Further development in analytical protocols and the application of analytical technology will allow researchers to identify compounds producing biological effects and help evaluate the environmental impact of these emerging contaminants on wildlife and human health. In the European Union, the Water Framework Directive requires priority substances to be reviewed regularly, and this research will enable the most appropriate compounds to be included in the list of regulated substances.
For more information, e-mail info@severntrentservices.com.
[ x ] Close Window