This book chapter addresses goals 14, 15, 6 and 11 by looking at the affects of pollutants on the biosphere.
The article focuses on the assessment of potential inorganic-water-pollutant species and their toxic impacts on the environment. Inorganic pollutants are classified as trace minerals, inorganic salts, trace elements, metals, and part of metal-organic frameworks. While inorganic pollutants are naturally occurring, their quantity can be significantly imbalanced due to various human activities. The article reviews recognized and under-observation inorganic pollutant species and their environmental and toxicological implications on the biosphere, including detection and identification of contamination routes.
The article also highlights the specific impacts of metals and/or their oxides on aquatic flora and fauna as well as human health. The increasing concern of water pollution has led to the classification of pollutants into physical, chemical, and biological categories, with inorganic pollutants being a significant part of the chemical-based category. The assessment of inorganic-water-pollutant species and their toxic impacts on the environment is necessary to mitigate their negative outcomes on human and other living organisms.
