Micropollutants are substances that even at very low concentrations have adverse effects on different environmental matrices. They are an inhomogeneous group of atroprogenic chemical compounds that is discharged by human to the environment. Commonly known micropollutants that might pose possible threats to ecological environments are, to name just a few:
- environmental persistent pharmaceutical pollutants and personal care products,
- pesticides,
- stimulants,
- persistent organic pollutants,
- and artificial sweeteners
To date, most of the scientists have identified wastewater treatment plants as the main source of micropollutants to aquatic ecosystems and/or adversely affect the extraction of potable water from raw water.[1][2] Due to in many places drinking water is also extracted from surface waters, or the substances also reach the groundwater via the water, they are also found in raw water and must be laboriously removed by drinking water treatment. In addition, some of the substances are bioaccumulative, which means that they accumulate in animals or plants and thus also in the human food chain.
- ^ Hashmi, Muhammad Zaffar; Wang, Shuhong; Ahmed, Zulkfil, eds. (2022). Environmental Micropollutants. doi:10.1016/C2020-0-03749-7. ISBN 978-0-323-90555-8.[page needed]
- ^ BMUB/UBA (ed.) (2017): Policy paper recommendations of the stakeholder dialogue "Federal Trace Substance Strategy" to politicians for the reduction of trace substance inputs into water bodies. Eds.: Hillenbrand, T.; Tettenborn, F.; Bloser, M.; Bonn: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety/Dessau: Federal Environment Agency, p, accessed on January 6, 2025