Linking emerging contaminants to production and consumption practices

Emerging contaminants (ECs) associated with consumer products such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and plastics, are an issue of growing concern for water quality human environmental health. Growth in use ECs is outcome populations, increased incomes the emergence new products. Two examples used illustrate value social science research understanding patterns consumption sources ECs, order to identify potential interventions reduce environment—flushing inappropriate materials down toilet, antibiotic global livestock production. Antimicrobial resistance a major policy driver control antibiotics healthcare Global 65% 2000–2015. Disposal including unused pharmaceuticals influenced by regulation, behavior, infrastructure. This range factors trends demonstrates complexity why enter aquatic environment extent that can be tackled at source rather than mitigated once environment. article categorized under: Engineering Water > Water, Health, Sanitation Human Methods Science Quality