International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics > Vol 15 > Issue 4

Contaminants of Emerging Concern: A Review of Biological and Economic Principles to Guide Water Management Policies

Angels Xabadia, Department of Economics, University of Girona, Spain, angels.xabadia@udg.edu , Encarna Esteban, Department of Economic Analysis, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Zaragoza, Spain, Yolanda Martinez, Department of Economic Analysis and Institute of Agrifood and Techonology IA2, University of Zaragoza-CITA, Spain, Iban Ortuzar, Department of Economics, University of Girona, Spain
 
Suggested Citation
Angels Xabadia, Encarna Esteban, Yolanda Martinez and Iban Ortuzar (2021), "Contaminants of Emerging Concern: A Review of Biological and Economic Principles to Guide Water Management Policies", International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics: Vol. 15: No. 4, pp 387-430. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/101.00000138

Publication Date: 07 Dec 2021
© 2021 A. Xabadia et al.
 
Subjects
Environmental Economics,  Public Economics,  Water
 
Keywords
JEL Codes: Q25Q53
Emerging pollutants (contaminants of emerging concern)biological processeswater qualityecosystems and human healthwater management
 

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This is published under the terms of CC-BY.

In this article:
1 Introduction 
2 Occurrence and Biological Processes of Emerging Contaminants 
3 Impacts of CECs on Ecosystems and Human Health 
4 Existing Legislation 
5 Challenges for Water Management and Policy 
6 Concluding Remarks 
Funding 
Conflicts of Interest 
References 

Abstract

Awareness regarding water contamination has increased recently due to the emergence of a multitude of pollutants that pose a high risk to ecosystems and human health. The huge number and heterogeneity of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs), in terms of their occurrence, bio-chemical behavior, and environmental impacts complicate their monitoring and control. This paper reviews empirical literature on the current situation of CECs to analyze how the identification and control of these emissions have been addressed. The results highlight the need for the risks and impacts of these emerging contaminants to be assessed from an integrated perspective, and for accurate estimates of the cost-efficiency of abatement technologies, taking into account potential side effects, to be provided. Thus, there is an urgent need for economic research that provides guidance for regulating these substances. Furthermore, issues such as developing protocols for measuring their presence and eco-toxicity, the way in which they are introduced into the environment, and their potential impact on aquatic ecosystems have yet to be covered.

DOI:10.1561/101.00000138