Emerging Contaminants in Water

This book provides comprehensive information on emerging contaminants in water, their sources, detection techniques, ecological and health impacts, and sustainable mitigation strategies. It emphasizes the urgent need for research and global collaboration to ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources. These emerging contaminants include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, industrial and household products, metals, surfactants, industrial additives, radioactive elements and many more which pose potential risks to ecosystems and human health. While extensive research has explored their individual effects, there remains a critical gap in understanding their combined ecological impacts. Recent research underscores various contaminants' harmful effects, prompting efforts to develop new and more efficient removal techniques. While methods like adsorption and filtration show promise, biological methods offer a promising alternative with greater degradation efficiency. This book comprises all such information related to emerging contaminants in water systems and what could be the next step to mitigate their harmful impact in a sustainable manner. The book is structured into seven parts, covering the classification, sources, detection techniques, occurrence, ecological and health effects, and fate of key contaminants like microplastics and PFAS in aquatic ecosystems. It also explores mitigation strategies, including setting safe thresholds and implementing sustainable removal approaches. Through an in-depth review of current research and future directions, this book serves as a valuable resource for scientists, policymakers, and environmental professionals working toward mitigating the harmful impact of emerging contaminants on water systems.

Chapter 5 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Dr. Manoj Kumar Jindal is an active researcher who has completed a Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry and is currently focusing on environmental chemistry/science research (water and radiation fields, including water quality, quantity, sustainability, and water chemistry). He has over ten years of experience in research and teaching. Presently, he works as a researcher in the Centre for Sustainable Drinking Water, IITJ-Jal Jeevan Mission at the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur (IITJ), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Previously, he worked at the Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India, for 2 years and at IIT Bhilai for 3.5 years. He has over 30 research publications in indexed journals. He is also the author of two books and numerous book chapters. He is a reviewer for many journals, including those from Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, and Oxford University Press. He has also reviewed book proposals for Elsevier. He is an Editorial Board Member of Discover Sustainability, published by Springer Nature (IF-2.4).

Dr. Parul Baranwal is a dedicated water industry leader with a strong background in environmental engineering, public policy, and project management. She has led multi-million-dollar water and wastewater projects, ensuring regulatory compliance, sustainability, and community engagement. Currently serving as the Assistant Director - Water Department, Government of Ames, she plays a pivotal role in workforce development, capital planning, and stakeholder collaboration. Passionate about advancing water quality and equitable resource management, Parul is an active member of NACWA, AWWA, and various professional committees, contributing to national discussions on clean water initiatives. She has also served as a peer reviewer for esteemed environmental journals and conferences. Through her technical expertise and leadership, she remains committed to shaping the future of water management and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Bhumika Das is currently serving as an Associate Professor and Head of the Civil Engineering Department at Lakhmi Chand Institute of Technology, Bilaspur. She has 13 years of teaching experience and specializes in Earth Science, Environmental Impact Assessment, Geospatial and Remote Sensing, Groundwater Analysis, and Mineral Deposits. Dr. Das has an impressive academic portfolio, with 35 research articles published in reputed national and international journals and conferences. She is the author of a textbook on Disaster Management and has also published a special issue with Springer Nature. Additionally, she holds two patents and has guided three Ph.D. theses and more than 35 B.Tech. and M.Tech. dissertations. Recognized for her contributions to research, she has been honored with the Young Scientist Award by the Chhattisgarh Council of Science and Technology. Dr. Das is also a reviewer for renowned journals.