Fate & Transport of Emerging Contaminants

Abstract

ABSTRACT Emerging contaminants (ECs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and nanomaterials, are increasingly detected in water, soil, and air due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, and widespread chemical usage. Their low concentrations, persistent nature, and potential ecotoxicological effects make them a growing environmental concern. This review explores the fate and transport mechanisms of emerging contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic environments, emphasizing the chemical, physical, and biological processes influencing their distribution. It also discusses analytical detection methods, modeling approaches, and mitigation strategies. Understanding the behavior of ECs in environmental compartments is essential for effective risk assessment and designing remediation technologies.

KEYWORDS: Emerging contaminants; Fate; Transport; Pharmaceuticals; Endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Environmental modeling; Remediation