We Need a “Keeling Curve” Approach for Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Several chemical and particulate species have been designated as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) due to their persistence in the environment, their detrimental effects on human health and ecosystems, and their lack of current regulations. According to the definitions provided by the U.S. Env...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2023-07, Vol.57 (28), p.10147-10150
Main Authors: Cooper, Adam W., Rogers, Mickey M., Wiggin, Kara J., Slade, Jonathan H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
air pollution
atmospheric chemistry
Contaminants
environmental pollution, impurities
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
plastics
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Summary:Several chemical and particulate species have been designated as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) due to their persistence in the environment, their detrimental effects on human health and ecosystems, and their lack of current regulations. According to the definitions provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), CECs encompass various substances, including industrial additives such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and microplastics. (1) These CECs have been detected around the globe in previously pristine environments that were once considered untouched by human influence, such as remote high-elevation mountain areas, Arctic air, snowpack, and the open ocean. Similar to greenhouse gases, CECs pose a pervasive threat to all regions of the world.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.3c03813