Tackling contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water
Summary of contents
Pollution in water is driving an unprecedented global crisis. Water bodies – including lakes, rivers, groundwaters, coastal waters and oceans – make up 71% of the Earth’s surface, yet they are widely contaminated with cocktails of toxic chemicals and plastics.
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) represent a troubling subset of pollutants, which are often unregulated and poorly understood. However, what is well-evidenced is that they are impacting our environment, resulting in adverse consequences for ecosystems and human health. We urgently need a comprehensive approach to CECs that complements remediation strategies and combines monitoring, regulation, interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is therefore calling on our governments and regulators for ambitious and urgent action in tackling CECs.