Organic Micropollutants in the Urban Soils: Technological Advances and Management Concerns

Organic micropollutants simply known as micropollutants or emerging contaminants have become a serious concern for the environment because of their nature of entry into the environment and also due to their persistent nature. With anthropogenic activities at the heart of their production and introduction into the environment, these pollutants are so called due to their concentration found in nature which ranges from micrograms to picograms per liter or kg. These pollutants come from a variety of products that include personal care products (PPCPs), perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nanomaterials, steroid hormones, pesticides, plastics, and synthetic materials. One of the major concerns related to these compounds is their sources of existence in the environment that include groundwater, fresh water, soil, marine ecosystem, sediments, and dust. The occurrence of such substances in the environment can severely affect marine life, wildlife, and human societies. Therefore, knowledge about various micropollutants, their sources of production and introduction into the environment, and their effects on various life forms is of paramount importance. Hence, in the following chapter we will discuss about types of micropollutants, their occurrences and sources of production, and their effects on different life-forms.