Impact of Household Chemicals on the Aquatic Environment and Advances in Alternative Technologies

Abstract

This review summarizes recent research on the impacts of household chemicals on aquatic environments and the development of technologies for their mitigation. Household chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), disinfection by-products, and tire rubber transformation products are increasingly detected in surface water, groundwater, and even drinking water sources, where they persist due to continuous domestic discharge. Once released, these substances follow multiple exposure pathways and exhibit complex hazard mechanisms, including endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and bioaccumulation, which threaten aquatic organisms and may have long-term consequences for human health. Addressing these challenges requires effective mitigation strategies, and recent advances provide promising options. Physical and chemical treatments, such as activated carbon adsorption, advanced oxidation processes, and membrane separation, achieve high removal efficiency but remain constrained by cost and energy requirements. Biological approaches, including microbial degradation and constructed wetlands, are emerging as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives. In parallel, the design of eco-friendly substitutes, such as biodegradable detergents and natural disinfectants, represents an upstream solution to reduce pollutant input at the source. By integrating knowledge of pollution status, hazard mechanisms, and remediation approaches, this review highlights both the ecological risks and potential management pathways, with the overarching goal of informing future research directions, guiding regulatory development, and safeguarding aquatic ecosystems and water quality under the growing pressure of household chemical contamination.