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Topics of special interest within the Themes

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Advanced Oxidation Processes

The AOP Specialist Group of the IWA is organizing a session targeting this topic.  When submitting an abstract, please specify that you are proposing to give a presentation or poster focused on this special topic.

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Micropollutants in focus
The following classes of micropollutants are of special interest for discussion at the Micropol and Ecohazard conference. These topics could be discussed under several of the conference themes.

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

• Persistent mobile and toxic (PMT) substances

• Antimicrobial compounds

• Algal toxins

• Disinfection byproducts

• Micro(nano)plastics

• Transformation products of 6PPD

• Naphthenic acids

 

Climate change impacts
A priority for discussion at the Micropol and Ecohazard conference is the potential impacts of climate change on the fate and effects of contaminants. 

• Influence of extreme weather events and rising temperatures on the transport, transformation of micropollutants.

• Influence of extreme weather on exposure of aquatic organisms to micropollutants

 

Transport of micropollutants between terrestrial and aquatic environments
The movement of micropollutants between treated wastewater, groundwater and surface waters and soils, biosolids and impervious surfaces are subjects of special interest for the Micropol and Ecohazard conference.  There may be human health implications to these transport processes.

• Road runoff

• Biosolids applications and transport of micropollutants into soils, groundwater, surface waters; human health implications

• Wastewater reuse and transport of micropollutants into soils, groundwater, surface waters; human health implications

 

Emerging, data-driven and AI-powered approaches

Discussions of emerging techniques and tools for evaluating the hazards associated with micropollutants is a topic of special interest for the Micropol and Ecohazard conference.

• Machine learning and big data analytics.

• In-silico tools for identifying potentially hazardous micropollutants.

• In vitro test methods and “trigger values” for micropollutants.

• Sensor development and real-time surveillance networks.

 

Social and policy dimensions

There are many challenges associated with developing policies for managing micropollutants that are priority topics for discussion at the Micropol and Ecohazard conference.  In North America, engaging with First Nations and Indigenous communities on water-related contamination issues is a priority.

• Addressing the concerns of Indigenous peoples about exposure to contaminants

• Public perception, stakeholder engagement, and behavioral aspects in relation to micropollutants (e.g., reduction at source)

• Policy development for non-target effects (e.g., ecosystem services degradation).