Emerging Contaminants: Analysis, Aquatic Compartments and Water Pollution

Over the past two decades, presence of so-called emerging contaminants in various environmental compartments around world, such as water, sediments, soils and atmosphere, a wide variety consumer products has become major concern for society, public health authorities, industry (namely food water sector) agricultural sector. Some these substances are endocrine disruptors others proven carcinogens mutagens. In particular, there is growing about resources.The list particularly long: pesticides, pharmaceuticals, drugs abuse (including licit illicit drugs), cosmetics, personal care products, surfactants, cleaning industrial formulations chemicals, additives, packaging, metalloids, rare earth elements, nanomaterials, microplastics pathogens. Most found not only domestic wastewater discharges, but also surface ground consequently drinking sources. Therefore, entering aquatic compartment may cause known, unknown or suspected adverse effects on ecosystems and/or human health. Many molecules have been classified recent years priority hazardous substances, thus, world municipal treatment plants concerned by release virtue increasingly strict regulations. However, existing conventional were designed eliminating new contaminants. addition, most yet routinely monitored either discharges environment. From an academic point view, great interest to scientific community receive special attention. The areas research their impact environment, sources, analysis fate well remediation. Indeed, behavior environment all living organisms remain largely unknown. difficult remove processes. Thus, intense activity topics.The objective this chapter present state knowledge After general considerations contaminants, first part focused chromatographic methods coupled mass spectrometry detection, detection sediment. alkylphenols, elements nanoparticles then discussed. Finally, examples contamination described from China Portugal, Mexico, Colombia Brazil, presented.