A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATE OF ORGANIC EMERGING CONTAMINANTS MANAGEMENT IN DRINKING WATER: REGULATORY LANDSCAPE, PROPERTIES, HEALTH IMPACTS, TREATMENT METHODS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20535/2218-930032024332073

Keywords:

adsorption, drinking water, emerging contaminant, legislation, organic micropollutants, reverse osmosis

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the growing challenge posed by organic emerging contaminants in drinking water systems. A comparative analysis is conducted on key pollutants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pesticides, bisphenol A, nonylphenol, 1,4-dioxane, and β-estradiol, focusing on their occurrence, physicochemical characteristics, environmental persistence, and health impacts on both ecosystems and human populations. These substances frequently exhibit similar traits such as hydrophobicity, low volatility, and resistance to conventional water treatment processes, thereby significantly complicating their effective removal using standard technologies. Regulatory frameworks in the European Union, the United States, China, and Ukraine are critically examined, with attention to both recent regulatory advancements and persistent gaps that hinder uniform international control. In addition, a detailed assessment of current water treatment technologies, including adsorption, ion exchange, and membrane filtration, which demonstrate a fairly high efficiency in pollutant removal under optimized operational conditions, is provided. However, challenges remain related to the regeneration of spent sorbents, membrane fouling, operational costs, and safe waste management. Oxidative methods, such as ozonation, UV irradiation, and advanced oxidation processes, are effective for the destruction of organic micropollutants, although the formation of potentially hazardous by-products, such as aldehydes, carboxylic acids, or halogenated organics, requires further water treatment. The effective removal of organic micropollutants from water requires the integration of strategies for both physical removal and chemical or biological degradation. Degradation technologies, such as incineration, electrochemical degradation, supercritical water oxidation, and biodegradation, demonstrate varying efficiency and levels of environmental sustainability and are often limited by high energy consumption, high operational costs, or incomplete mineralization of pollutants. The findings highlight the pressing need for further enhancement of international regulations, the development of cost-effective, energy-efficient, and sustainable advanced treatment technologies, and the adoption of integrated water management strategies to ensure the long-term protection of public health and drinking water resources globally.

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2024-12-29

How to Cite

Burlakova, V., & Mitchenko, T. (2024). A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATE OF ORGANIC EMERGING CONTAMINANTS MANAGEMENT IN DRINKING WATER: REGULATORY LANDSCAPE, PROPERTIES, HEALTH IMPACTS, TREATMENT METHODS. WATER AND WATER PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL NEWS, 40(3), 15–42. https://doi.org/10.20535/2218-930032024332073

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Vol. 40 No. 3 (2024)

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METHODS OF DRINKING WATER TREATMENT

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