Application of radiation technology in removing endocrine micropollutants from waters and wastewaters—a review

Abstract

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) are increasingly being adopted as a post-treatment after conventional wastewater treatment, mainly due to the efficient removal of biodegradable organic micropollutants. Endocrine disruptors are a specific group of such micropollutants. Many scientific studies demonstrate their extremely harmful effects on living organisms, even at low concentrations in water and wastewater. AOPs based on the generation of reactive species using radiation technologies, these being gamma radiation and electron beam, are still not being used to their full potential. This publication presents the application possibilities of using ionizing radiation for the degradation of selected endocrine micropollutants in water and wastewater.