Impact of Toxic Elements on Water Quality and Treatment Methods

Dear Colleagues,

Water is an important resource required for the survival and sustenance of animals and human beings. In recent decades, continuous growth in industrial activities, particularly in the manufacturing sector among developing countries, such as China, India, Vietnam, and many other countries in different parts of the world, is being observed. This rapid intensification in the manufacturing sector due to economic and political interests has increased the release of various pollutants (both inorganic and organic) into the environment either due to mishandling, less stringent treatment systems, and poor management of industrial waste. A rapid surge in the concentration of the pollutants, such as heavy metals, antibiotics, and pesticides, into the environment can have serious impacts on human and animal health, as well as on the ecosystem. Among the various contaminants, the pollutants, such as toxic elements, antibiotics, and pesticides, are of prime importance. The presence of toxic elements in water more than the desired is associated with the risk of developing chronic diseases in human beings and animals. Similarly, the presence of antibiotics, even in trace amounts, can develop antibiotic resistance among the microbes that can lead to clinical infections. Hence, it is necessary to quantify the presence of various pollutants present in the environment and develop effective methods for their removal. In this context, we would like to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue and to disseminate and share findings. This will contribute to the environmental protection and development of effective methods for the pollutants removal from water.

In particular, the submission of research articles, case studies, and review articles related but not limited to the following topics is encouraged

• Assessment of the source of the various pollutants into the water bodies and their impact on human health (Large-scale studies are preferred);

• Innovative materials such as graphene, biochar, metal-organic framework (MOF) for the removal of heavy metals from water;

• Photocatalytic and adsorptive removal of organic pollutants from water;

• Large-scale field studies related to the assessment and treatment of pollutants present in industrial wastewater.

Dr. Ashwani Kumar Tiwari
Dr. Subhash Chandra
Topic Editors