title: Anthropogenic Trace Compounds (ATCs) in aquatic habitats - research needs on sources, fate, detection and toxicity to ensure timely elimination strategies and risk management.
abstract: Anthropogenic Trace Compounds (ATCs) that continuously grow in numbers and concentrations are an emerging issue for water quality in both natural and technical environments. The complex web of exposure pathways as well as the variety in the chemical structure and potency of ATCs represents immense challenges for future research and policy initiatives. This review summarizes current trends and identifies knowledge gaps in innovative, effective monitoring and management strategies while addressing the research questions concerning ATC occurrence, fate, detection and toxicity. We highlight the progressing sensitivity of chemical analytics and the challenges in harmonization of sampling protocols and methods, as well as the need for ATC indicator substances to enable cross-national valid monitoring routine. Secondly, the status quo in ecotoxicology is described to advocate for a better implementation of long-term tests, to address toxicity on community and environmental as well as on human-health levels, and to adapt various test levels and endpoints. Moreover, we discuss potential sources of ATCs and the current removal efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to indicate the most effective places and elimination strategies. Knowledge gaps in transport and/or detainment of ATCs through their passage in surface waters and groundwaters are further emphasized in relation to their physico-chemical properties, abiotic conditions and biological interactions in order to highlight fundamental research needs. Finally, we demonstrate the importance and remaining challenges of an appropriate ATC risk assessment since this will greatly assist in identifying the most urgent calls for action, in selecting the most promising measures, and in evaluating the success of implemented management strategies.
authors: Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. Electronic address: sabine.gerbersdorf@iws.uni-stuttgart.de.
authors: Sabine U
authors: SU
authors: Gerbersdorf
authors: Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstrasse 3, 73728 Esslingen, Germany.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Cimatoribus
authors: Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Holger
authors: H
authors: Class
authors: Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Karl-H
authors: KH
authors: Engesser
authors: Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Steffen
authors: S
authors: Helbich
authors: Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, China.
authors: Henner
authors: H
authors: Hollert
authors: Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Lange
authors: Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Kranert
authors: Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstrasse 3, 73728 Esslingen, Germany.
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Metzger
authors: Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Nowak
authors: Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Thomas-Benjamin
authors: TB
authors: Seiler
authors: Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Steger
authors: Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Heidrun
authors: H
authors: Steinmetz
authors: Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: Silke
authors: S
authors: Wieprecht
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biofilm-influenced sediment dynamics; Chemical detection methods; Effect-related bioassays; Elimination strategies; Environmental risk assessment; Micropollutants; Water