quantitatively and qualitatively. The availability of in-situ measurements and multiple
detection analyses has expanded water monitoring applications in various advanced
techniques including successful development in hand-held sensing devices, which
improves portability in real-time basis for the detection of contaminants, such as
microorganisms, pesticides, heavy metal ions, and inorganic and organic components.
Keywords Biosensor, Contaminant, Functionalization, Gold electrode,
Immunosensor, Organic threats, Pollutants, Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM),
Transducer, Water
1 Introduction
The Safe Drinking Water Act defines the term “contaminant” as meaning any
physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. Therefore, the law defines “contaminant” very broadly as being anything other than water
molecules. Drinking water may reasonably be expected to contain at least small
amounts of some contaminants. Some drinking water contaminants may be harmful
if consumed above certain levels, while others may be harmless. The presence of
contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. Waste
production from agriculture, industrial sewage, and animal and human activities are
affecting the boundaries between clean and waste water, causing a reduction in the
fresh water available for humans. Water ecology provides services such as food
production, nutrient cycling, habitat provision, flood regulation, water purification,
and soil formation. Biological and chemical contaminants in tap and drinking water
can initiate the evolution of contagious diseases.
The following are general categories of drinking water contaminants and some
examples of each:
• Physical contaminants primarily impact the physical appearance or other physical
properties of water. Examples of physical contaminants are sediments or organic
material suspended in the water of lakes, rivers, and streams from soil erosion.
• Chemical contaminants are inorganic elements or compounds. These contaminants may be naturally occurring or due to human activities. Examples of
chemical contaminants include nitrogen, bleach, salts, pesticides, metals, toxins
produced by bacteria, and human or animal drugs.
• Biological contaminants are living organisms also referred to as microbes or
microbial contaminants. Examples include bacteria, viruses, protozoan, and
parasites.
• Radiological contaminants are chemical elements with an unbalanced number of
protons and neutrons resulting in unstable atoms that can emit ionizing radiation.
Examples of radiological contaminants include cesium, plutonium, and uranium.
Recently, analytical technologies in water monitoring have taken a variety of
directions. There are several water monitoring techniques, including conventional
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B. Della Ventura et al.
detection analyses has expanded water monitoring applications in various advanced
techniques including successful development in hand-held sensing devices, which
improves portability in real-time basis for the detection of contaminants, such as
microorganisms, pesticides, heavy metal ions, and inorganic and organic components.
Keywords Biosensor, Contaminant, Functionalization, Gold electrode,
Immunosensor, Organic threats, Pollutants, Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM),
Transducer, Water
1 Introduction
The Safe Drinking Water Act defines the term “contaminant” as meaning any
physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. Therefore, the law defines “contaminant” very broadly as being anything other than water
molecules. Drinking water may reasonably be expected to contain at least small
amounts of some contaminants. Some drinking water contaminants may be harmful
if consumed above certain levels, while others may be harmless. The presence of
contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. Waste
production from agriculture, industrial sewage, and animal and human activities are
affecting the boundaries between clean and waste water, causing a reduction in the
fresh water available for humans. Water ecology provides services such as food
production, nutrient cycling, habitat provision, flood regulation, water purification,
and soil formation. Biological and chemical contaminants in tap and drinking water
can initiate the evolution of contagious diseases.
The following are general categories of drinking water contaminants and some
examples of each:
• Physical contaminants primarily impact the physical appearance or other physical
properties of water. Examples of physical contaminants are sediments or organic
material suspended in the water of lakes, rivers, and streams from soil erosion.
• Chemical contaminants are inorganic elements or compounds. These contaminants may be naturally occurring or due to human activities. Examples of
chemical contaminants include nitrogen, bleach, salts, pesticides, metals, toxins
produced by bacteria, and human or animal drugs.
• Biological contaminants are living organisms also referred to as microbes or
microbial contaminants. Examples include bacteria, viruses, protozoan, and
parasites.
• Radiological contaminants are chemical elements with an unbalanced number of
protons and neutrons resulting in unstable atoms that can emit ionizing radiation.
Examples of radiological contaminants include cesium, plutonium, and uranium.
Recently, analytical technologies in water monitoring have taken a variety of
directions. There are several water monitoring techniques, including conventional
316
B. Della Ventura et al.