Environmental Chemistry: Applications, Interactions and Paradigm Shift in Futuristic Approaches

Abstract

Environmental chemistry is an interdisciplinary science with multiple importance in the dynamic lifestyle and consumption pattern. Globally, the environmental regulatory agencies and research institutions feel the extreme need for environmental chemistry for the identification of the nature, source, monitoring, and remediation of pollutants. The pollutants may range from heavy metals, organometallics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and nutrients, to the runoff of various other contaminants, their transportation, and interaction with living organisms. Their rapid and accurate separation, identification, quantification using sophisticated techniques, characterization, and understanding of the interactions and mechanisms are the key components of analytical chemistry, for better biochemical or physiological understanding. Contaminants generally have short or long-term toxic implications on the surrounding environment due to direct impact or through bioactivity. Management of environmental pollutants, with minimal impact on biodiversity and human population, is the desired objective of most of the Research & Development programs of International societal relevance. The coordination and effective implementation through sustainable, green, computational technologies may provide the best strategic solutions to the innovators, academicians, and stakeholders, amidst constraints on resources.