TY - JOUR

T1 - A path to clean water

T2 - Reduced chemicals input must complement wastewater treatment to ensure the safety of water resources

AU - Kümmerer, Klaus

AU - Dionysiou, Dionysios D.

AU - Olsson, Oliver

AU - Fatta-Kassinos, Despo

PY - 2018/7/20

Y1 - 2018/7/20

N2 - Chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, are necessary for health, agriculture and food production, industrial production, economic welfare, and many other aspects of modern life. However, their widespread use has led to the presence of many different chemicals in the water cycle (1, 2), from which they may enter the food chain (3, 4). The use of chemicals will further increase with growth, health, age, and living standard of the human population. At the same time, the need for clean water will also increase, including treated wastewater for food production and high-purity water for manufacturing electronics and pharmaceuticals. Climate change is projected to further reduce water availability in sufficient quantity and quality. Considering the limits of effluent treatment, there is an urgent need for input prevention at the source and for the development of chemicals that degrade rapidly and completely in the environment. © 2017 The Authors, some rights reserved.

AB - Chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, are necessary for health, agriculture and food production, industrial production, economic welfare, and many other aspects of modern life. However, their widespread use has led to the presence of many different chemicals in the water cycle (1, 2), from which they may enter the food chain (3, 4). The use of chemicals will further increase with growth, health, age, and living standard of the human population. At the same time, the need for clean water will also increase, including treated wastewater for food production and high-purity water for manufacturing electronics and pharmaceuticals. Climate change is projected to further reduce water availability in sufficient quantity and quality. Considering the limits of effluent treatment, there is an urgent need for input prevention at the source and for the development of chemicals that degrade rapidly and completely in the environment. © 2017 The Authors, some rights reserved.

KW - Chemistry

KW - Sustainability Science

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050524711&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1126/science.aau2405

DO - 10.1126/science.aau2405

M3 - Scientific review articles

C2 - 30026210

VL - 361

SP - 222

EP - 224

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 6399

ER -