Understanding emerging contaminants in water and wastewater: A comprehensive review on detection, impacts, and solutions

• Rising water demand and wastewater challenges necessitate advanced treatment. • Emerging contaminants pose new risks to health and the environment. • Increasing focus on unregulated chemicals in water treatment processes. • Global efforts intensify to monitor and regulate emerging contaminants. • Need for innovative technologies to detect and remove emerging contaminants. Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, and nanomaterials, are increasingly detected in water, soil, and air, raising serious environmental and public health concerns. These pollutants originate from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff,…