The rapid advancement of technology has introduced a plethora of contaminants, including microplastics, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, surfactants, and organic pollutants, leading to significant environmental challenges. Often stemming from industrial and agricultural practices and improper effluent treatment and disposal, these persistent pollutants infiltrate water, air, and soil and enter the food chain through bioaccumulation and biomagnification. While mandated concern over these contaminants is growing, our understanding of their long-term effects remains limited, owing to inadequate funding and a lack of analytical tools. This results in minimal data highlighting their behavior in the environment, complex interactions between pollutants, and a lack of health guideline values. This review summarizes existing research on emerging contaminants and their effects on human health and the environment. It also discusses their sources, detection, treatment, and suggestions for a risk-based management strategy.