Evaluation of Emerging Contaminants (ECs) in Water Resources, Spatio-Temporal Assessment, and Environment-Friendly Remedies: An Indian Perspective

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are chemical substances that have been identified as having significant detrimental effects on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to their chronic and acute toxicity. In recent times, ECs have been detected in various water sources across India, including surface water, groundwater, stormwater, treated industrial effluent, bottled water, and even snow from glaciers. The contamination of surface water eventually leads to the infiltration of ECs into deep water aquifers through groundwater recharge. Unfortunately, conventional biological treatment methods are unable to eliminate ECs from water sources. Therefore, this literature focuses on addressing the mitigation of risks by exploring various unconventional methods for removing ECs from the environment. This paper critically examines the current challenges associated with the presence of ECs in aquatic environments, providing insightful comments and recommendations for further research.