A review of what is an emerging contaminant

作者：Sébastien Sauvé, Mélanie Desrosiers · 发表于：Chemistry Central Journal · 年份：2014 · DOI：10.1186/1752-153x-8-15 · 被引用次数：765 · 研究领域：Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts、Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact、Environmental Justice and Health Disparities

A review is presented of how one defines emerging contaminants and what can be included in that group of contaminants which is preferably termed "contaminants of emerging concern". An historical perspective is given on the evolution of the issues surrounding emerging contaminants and how environmental scientists have tackled this issue. This begins with global lead contamination from the Romans two millennia ago, moves on to arsenic-based and DDT issues and more recently to pharmaceuticals, cyanotoxins, personal care products, nanoparticles, flame retardants, etc. Contaminants of emerging concern will remain a moving target as new chemical compounds are continuously being produced and science continuously improves its understanding of current and past contaminants.