Urban fingerprinting on the River Ganges: A perspective of emerging contaminants status

Over the decades, there has been an increase in the number of Emerging Contaminants (ECs) in different aquatic compartments. These ECs do have a direct effect on marine organisms and indirect impacts on human health. Numerous studies regarding the ECs detection, fate, and health impacts are confined to developed nations. Indian River systems have remained the epitome of pollution due to unregulated treatment and discharge of pollutants from different sources. Therefore, this studies providing an adequate sound knowledge of identifying ECs in Indian rivers become of utmost importance. The current study focuses on the identification of ECs in the Ganges in three major cities, respectively, in three belts of Indo-Gangetic plains. Hydroxymorphinan, picrotoxinin, antibiotic quinolone, and nefopam are common drugs found at different locations in the Ganga basin. ECs and the frequency of each EC have been identified for various locations and estimated with some basic consideration. Interestingly, Ethylhexyl ester is primarily used in pesticide manufacturing and is a common problem for the middle and lower Ganga basins. Besides, personal care products, insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, and flavoring agents are major sources of ECs in the Ganga basin. The trends of concentration of various ECs from upper towards downstream were analyzed and justified with sources. Lastly, this manuscript concluded with various recommendations related to the control of unloading and releasing the effluents in the Ganga and biomonitoring the organic contaminants, along with toxic ECs.