In recent years, with the advent of more sensitive analytical instrumentation (e.g., LC/MS/MS, LC/TOF/MS, GC/MS/MS, LC/ICP/MS, etc.), many more emerging contaminants or micro-pollutants are readily identifiable and quantifiable in the environment at relevant environmental concentrations (e.g., micro- and nano-grams per liter). This has led to an emerging awareness of their presence in the environmental and in drinking water sources, and in some cases to the determination of their deleterious effects on the ecosystem and human health. Emerging contaminants of particular interest and concern include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting compounds, cyanotoxins (algal toxins), solvents, pesticide and other degradation products, disinfection byproducts, nitrosamines, inorganics, nanoparticles, and other species.  To understand the implications of emerging contaminants in the environment, it is important to characterize and prioritize their risk to the environment and to humans. Data for occurrence of a wide range of emerging contaminants in wastewater, surface waters and groundwaters, and their associated toxicity, will be discussed in this presentation. Risk is also associated with the persistence and mobility of specific emerging contaminants which are often impacted by water quality conditions such as pH, natural organic matter, alkalinity, N and P, and other factors. For example, speciation of certain classes of sulfonamide antibiotics has a major effect of their mobility and concentrations observed in the environment. These complexities associated with certain classes of emerging contaminants will be presented.  The unique aspects related to source, effects and control of various classes of emerging contaminants will be covered. For example, the causes and potential control approaches for a wide suite of prevalent cyanotoxins (algal toxins), an increasing and significant problem for lakes and rivers in the United States and elsewhere, will be presented. Further, wastewater discharges from municipal, agricultural and industrial sources are primary sources for many emerging contaminants found in the environment. Developing sustainable and effective methods of controlling the release of these emerging contaminants into the environment is vital to reducing their concentration and impacts, and specific approaches will be presented.

Emerging micro-pollutants in the environment: Source, occurrence, risk and control

247th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.