**Abstract**

Emerging contaminants (ECs), encompass both natural and synthetic chemicals that are present or transformed to new chemical compounds in water bodies across the globe. They are presently not checked in the environment but poses a serious health threat to human and ecosystem as well as environmental damage. ECs are released into environment during the anthropogenic activities such as water treatments, fumigation, farming etc. More than 1036 ECs and their biotransformation have been identified by the NORMAN project, established in 2005 by the European Commission. They were further classified into different categorizes/classes including disinfection by-products, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, nanomaterials, benzotriazoles, benzothiazoles among others. The potential sources, path route and their health implication on human were also discussed. The presence of ECs in our environments is global issue that requires urgent attention.

**Keywords:** emerging pollutants, contaminants, pharmaceuticals, personal care products cosmetics, disinfectant

### **1. Introduction**

Emerging pollutants (EPs) are natural and synthetic chemicals as well as microbes that are of less concern to the researchers, national and international regulatory bodies [1, 2]. They have not been explicitly studied and there is limited information about their environmental effects, health implications and method of analysis. These pollutants are not new in our environments but they can stay for a longtime in the environment because of their biotransformation, formation of metabolites and by-products [2, 3].

EPs are recently recognized as re-emerging factory-made or naturally formed materials that are detrimental to human health after a long-term exposure and lacking regulatory health standard [4, 5]. They are classified as agricultural (pesticides), industrial and consumer waste products, pharmaceutical and illicit drug as well as personal care products [6–8]. More than 121 various types of unregulated chemicals and microbes are present in an untreated water and at least 25 were found in water

treatment plants (WTP) [9]. Furthermore, unregulated chemicals such as nitrosamines (NAs), dioxane, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (cosmetics, disinfectant, antiseptic, deodorant stick, soap, fragrances, insect repellent, sunscreen, surfactants and toothpaste) as well as perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAA) are EPs [8, 10, 11]. For instance, N-Nitroso-dimethylamine (NDMA) an emerging contaminant produced as byproducts of chloramines in drinking water treatment plants [12]. Nanomaterials (NMs) are substances produced with a dimension in nanoscale range from 1 to 100 nanometer as to improve the chemical strength and reactivity [10]. However, some NMs introduced contaminants when used for water treatment. Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) PBDEs are brominated hydrocarbons used as flame retardants in the production of furniture, plastics, upholstery, electrical equipment, electronic devices and many other household products [10]. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) fluorinated organic compounds with many industrial applications; such as surfactants in fluoropolymers and as grease, soil and water resistant in fluorinated polymer [13, 14].
