ABSTRACT
Recently,.the.focus.of.environmental.analysis.has.shifted.from.the.classic.contaminants,.such.as.the.persistent.organic.pollutants,.toward.the.“emerging.contaminants”. detected. recently. in.many.environmental.compartments.1.Emerging.contaminants. are. defined. as. compounds. that. are. not. currently. covered. by. existing. regulations. of.water.quality,.have.not.been.previously.studied,.and.are.thought.to.be.potential. threats. to. environmental. ecosystems. and. human. health. and. safety.. In. particular,. the.compounds.that.are.being.addressed.include.pharmaceuticals,.drugs.of.abuse,. and.personal-care.products.2.The.high.water.solubility.of.these.organic.compounds. makes.them.mobile.in.the.aquatic.media,.hence.they.can.potentially.infiltrate.the.soil. and.then.reach.groundwater..Eventually,.these.compounds.may.find.their.way.into. the.drinking.water.supplies.
