ABSTRACT
One of humanity’s most serious environmental challenges is the rising contamination of global freshwater systems by various industrial and natural chemical compounds. Even though most of these substances are present in trace concentrations, some pose significant toxicological risks, especially when used in a complex matrix. Environmental scientists are getting increasingly concerned about daily micropollutants (MPs), which are highly found in untreated sewage and wastewater discharge into surface water reservoirs, as surface water is regularly used to manufacture drinking water at water treatment plants (WTPs). MPs in surface waterways are a major source of worry. This chapter summarizes the most recent cases of MPs in the environment, their sources, and the possible harm they could do to human health and the ecosystem.
