<p>Pollutants, particularly those resistant to conventional treatment methods, pose significant risks to both human health and aquatic ecosystems. Advanced oxidation processes have gained prominence as effective alternatives to address these environmental challenges, leveraging highly reactive radicals including hydroxyl (HO^·) and sulfate (SO₄^·−) radicals for pollutant degradation. Those processes can be applied both independently and in combination with traditional treatment methods to improve efficiency. By activating precursors like peroxides through various pathways such as thermolysis, photolysis, sonolysis, and electrolysis, hydroxyl (HO^·) and sulfate (SO₄^·−) radicals can degrade a wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants in a variety of water matrices, including wastewater, natural water, and saline environments. This review discusses the key findings related to the generation, reactivity, and environmental applications of (HO^·) and (SO₄^·−) radicals in Advanced oxidation processes, exploring their impact on improving the efficiency of water decontamination processes. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing the application of advanced oxidation processes in diverse environmental settings.</p>