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26 Novel Biotechnological Approaches for Removal of Emerging Contaminants

and leads to many environmental issues. These solid wastes may contain hazardous

solids, semi-solids, and greenhouse gases which may be flammable at times.

Landfills are also one of the major reasons for global warming and environmental

imbalance. The waste includes both biodegradable and non-biodegradable sub-

stances. The biodegradable substance will decompose and does not cause hazardous

effects. However, the non-biodegradable substances will cause serious hazards,

such as land pollution and air pollution, and contaminate the groundwater sources

if not disposed off appropriately.

26.3.2

Deposition of Solid and Liquid Waste into the Water Sources

Most of the water bodies are being contaminated by discarding the industrial solid

waste and wastewater into them. The waste includes all types of PCP, biomedical

waste, textile waste, DBP, pesticides, biofibers, bioplastic, paper and pulp industry

waste, and other chemical and domestic waste. All these wastes are deposited in

huge quantity into the water sources, such as lake, pond, river, seas, and oceans.

These wastes will affect the chemical and biological oxygen demand, which leads to

insufficient level of oxygen to the aquatic plants and animals leading to their death.

26.4

Need of Removal of ECs

The removal of these contaminants is very vital, because

➢They have the potential to induce a large range of acute and long-term effects on

the human health and ecosystems;

➢Studies showed that high-level exposure of these contaminants will cause

endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, neurological disorders, and cancer in

humans and animals. Some of these contaminants are identified as known

carcinogens by United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA);

➢Many of these contaminants are used and released into the environment even in

very low quantities will cause chronic toxicity, and the development of bacterial

pathogenic resistance;

➢High level exposure of these contaminants will increase the risk of birth defects,

kidney, and liver damage.

26.5

Methods of Treatment of EC

The EC can be treated and managed using various methods. The major methods of

treatment of EC are physical, chemical, physiochemical, and biotechnological meth-

ods. Biotechnological approach is a recent and innovative.

26.5.1

Physical Methods

Physical method of treatment of contaminants is done by simple filtration or sedi-

mentation of the wastewater in the large tanks. By this method, only the undesirable