title: Phenols, flame retardants and phthalates in water and wastewater - a global problem.
abstract: Organic pollutants in water and wastewater have been causing serious environmental problems. The arbitrary discharge of wastewater by industries, and handling, use, and disposal constitute a means by which phenols, flame retardants (FRs), phthalates (PAEs) and other toxic organic pollutants enter the ecosystem. Moreover, these organic pollutants are not completely removed during treatment processes and might be degraded into highly toxic derivatives, which has led to their occurrence in the environment. Phenols, FRs and PAEs are thus highly toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic, and are capable of disrupting the endocrine system. Therefore, investigation to understand the sources, pathways, behavior, toxicity and exposure to phenols, FRs and PAEs in the environment is necessary. Formation of different by-products makes it difficult to compare the efficacy of the treatment processes, most especially when other organic matters are present. Hence, high levels of phenols, FRs and PAEs removal could be attained with in-line combined treatment processes.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Nanoscience Research Group, Department of Industrial Chemistry, Federal University OyeEkiti, P.M.B. 373, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria E-mail: osayanda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Olushola Sunday
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Ayanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Godwin Oladele
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Olutona
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Nanoscience Research Group, Department of Industrial Chemistry, Federal University OyeEkiti, P.M.B. 373, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria E-mail: osayanda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emmanuel G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Olumayede
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Nanoscience Research Group, Department of Industrial Chemistry, Federal University OyeEkiti, P.M.B. 373, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria E-mail: osayanda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cecilia O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Akintayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 962, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bhekumusa J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ximba
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D062065:Wastewater; D014867:Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C032279:phthalic acid