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Contaminants of emerging concern

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are chemicals or materials that are not continuously monitored in the environment but have the potential to enter the environment and cause known or suspected negative ecological and health effects. CECs include a wide range of substances such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, nanomaterials, and microplastics. The identification and management of CECs is a challenge due to their diverse nature, the lack of methods for their detection and assessment, and the changing understanding of their environmental and health impacts.

History and background

The concept of CECs gained significant attention in the early 21st century as advances in analytical techniques allowed for the detection of these substances at trace levels in various environmental matrices. The increased awareness of CECs is partly due to their abundant presence in wastewater, surface water, groundwater, and drinking water, often because of urbanization, industrial activities, and the widespread use of pharmaceuticals and personal care products . The recognition of the potential risks posed by CECs has led to a growing body of research aimed at understanding their sources, fate, and effects in the environment, as well as the development of strategies for their management and removal .

Current events

The management of CECs has gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential impact on public health and the environment. In response to these concerns, various governmental and international organizations have initiated efforts to address CECs through research, regulation, and public outreach.

In January 2024, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced a coordinated federal research initiative to address CECs in surface waters. The initiative aims to enhance understanding of the sources, occurrence, and effects of CECs, as well as to develop effective strategies for their removal and management .

Furthermore, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has been actively involved in addressing CECs. The OECD Workshop on Managing Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Surface Waters brought together experts from various countries to discuss challenges and solutions related to CECs, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in tackling this global issue .

These recent developments underscore the growing recognition of the need for concerted efforts to address the challenges posed by CECs in order to protect public health and the environment.

Environmental and Public Health Impacts

CECs can enter the environment through various pathways, including wastewater treatment plant effluents, agricultural runoff, industrial pollution, and improper disposal of household products. Once they are in the environment, they can be transported through water, soil, and air, allowing for widespread distribution. As a result, CECs negatively impact the environment and public health in several ways. Although the impacts of CECs on the environment and human health are still being investigated, there is growing concern about their potential to cause harm. For example, certain pharmaceuticals have been shown to have endocrine-disrupting effects on aquatic organisms, and the presence of antibiotic residues in the environment may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Regulation and Management

The regulation of CECs is challenging due to the lack of comprehensive data on their occurrence, fate, and effects. However, efforts are being made to develop guidelines and strategies for managing these contaminants. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working on assessing and prioritizing CECs to better understand their risks and develop appropriate regulatory responses.

Research and Monitoring

Research on CECs is ongoing and focuses on improving analytical methods, understanding their environmental fate and behavior, and assessing their ecological and human health risks. Monitoring programs are being implemented in various regions to track the presence and concentration of CECs in different environmental compartments.

References

1. Gavrilescu, M., Demnerová, K., Aamand, J., Agathos, S., & Fava, F. (2015). Emerging pollutants in the environment: present and future challenges in biomonitoring, ecological risks and bioremediation. New Biotechnology, 32(1), 147–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2014.01.001
2. Nkansah, M. A., & Dawson-Andoh, B. (2021). Environmental Justice: A Review of History, Research, and Policies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13180. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413180
3. Office of Science and Technology Policy. (2024, January 19). Addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concern Through Coordinated Federal Research. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2024/01/19/addressing-contaminants-of-emerging-concern-through-coordinated-federal-research/
4. OECD. (n.d.). OECD Workshop on Managing Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Surface Waters. https://www.oecd.org/water/oecdworkshoponmanagingcontaminantsofemergingconcerninsurfacewaters.html
5. Pinto I, Simões M, Gomes IB. An Overview of the Impact of Pharmaceuticals on Aquatic Microbial Communities. Antibiotics (Basel). 2022 Nov 25;11(12):1700. doi:10.3390/antibiotics11121700.
6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Contaminants of Emerging Concern Including Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products. https://www.epa.gov/wqc/contaminants-emerging-concern-including-pharmaceuticals-and-personal-care-products