Emerging Contaminants in Water and Wastewater : Sources and Substances

This present book serves as a comprehensive compilation of various emerging contaminants in the ecosystem, their contamination risk as well as the applicable remediation techniques. Exploding urbanization and industrialization often combined with improved standards of living have resulted in deleterious effects on the quality of the environment. Due to rapid growth of industrialization in the past few decades, large amounts of undesirable wastes are being discharged into the environment threatening the survival of living beings on the earth. In the recent years, the problems regarding pollution have become more global, and awareness about the environmental problems is increasing continuously. Environmental awakening has led many scientists to focus on the assessment of environmental impact of various emerging contaminants. The first victims of the environmental pollution are the terrestrial plants and aquatic bodies in the vicinity of urban areas that experience heavy pollution due to industrial effluents, toxic chemicals, hospital waste, radioactive waste, industrial fumes, vehicular traffic, etc. The increasing industrialization and use of hazardous chemicals are responsible for the lack of access to clean water in many parts of the world. In view of the widespread occurrence, persistence, and harmful effects of environmental pollutants on human population, the present book is proposed.

Emerging contaminants due to ubiquitous distribution, persistence, and toxic effects have necessitated the development of efficient methods for remediation of contamination. Reports appearing from time to time reveal that the number and concentration of contaminants in the environment are continuously increasing. Thus, development as well as dissemination of new and eco-friendly methods for the removal of these pollutants has become a challenging task.