Abstract The accumulation of micropollutants (MPs) and their increasing concentration in the aquatic environment are an emerging issue for water quality in the world. The complex web of exposure pathways, as well as the variety in the chemical structure and potency of MPs, represents enormous challenges for researchers and policy initiatives. In order to manage MPs, it has to be decided which of them have to be reduced and to what extent, where in the water cycle this would be the most efficient and which technical means that should be applied to be sustainable. All of these aspects require a knowledge of MPs abundance, properties, fate and impact in the environment, which is essentially determined by two related features: the sources and the physico-chemical characteristics of MPs. Micropollutants including pharmaceuticals, antibiotics and hormones can enter the aquatic environment through both diffuse and point sources, but in urbanised regions wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a crucial role in their dissemination. Conventional WWTPs are effective in removal of macropollutants (e.g. nutrients, suspended solids and some trace elements), while MPs may go through the treatment unchanged or be removed at different rates. Most of the EU countries are convinced that the presence of MPs in the environment poses a serious problem, particularly in highly populated regions where surface water resources serve as a source of potable water. Presently, various technical solutions are available and have been proven possible to integrate with existing treatment processes in an expedient manner. The solutions that have been evaluated are mainly based on ozonation and/or activated carbon treatment technologies which may definitely be considered the most effective compared to the costs incurred.

中文翻译：

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在废水处理厂 (WWTP) 中实施先进的微污染物去除技术 - 基于选定欧盟国家的示例和挑战

摘要 微污染物（MPs）的积累及其在水生环境中的浓度不断增加是世界上一个新出现的水质问题。复杂的暴露途径网络，以及 MP 化学结构和效力的多样性，对研究人员和政策举措构成了巨大挑战。为了管理 MP，必须决定哪些必须减少，减少到什么程度，在水循环中的哪个位置最有效，以及应该采用哪些技术手段以实现可持续发展。所有这些方面都需要了解 MPs 的丰度、特性、归宿和环境影响，这主要由两个相关特征决定：MPs 的来源和理化特性。包括药物在内的微量污染物，抗生素和激素可以通过扩散源和点源进入水环境，但在城市化地区，污水处理厂 (WWTP) 在其传播中起着至关重要的作用。传统的污水处理厂可有效去除大污染物（例如养分、悬浮固体和一些微量元素），而 MP 可能会在处理过程中保持不变或以不同的速率去除。大多数欧盟国家都相信，环境中 MP 的存在会带来严重的问题，特别是在地表水资源作为饮用水源的人口稠密地区。目前，有多种技术解决方案可供使用，并且已被证明可以以方便的方式与现有的处理过程相结合。