LAUSR

The year of 2022 is the 50th year of Clean Water Act (CWA), which is also known as Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 Although the US Environmental Protection Agency has implemented pollution control programs and developed national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutions in surface water under CWA, many of emerging pollutants such as microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have not been recognized until they have been widespread and reached dangerous levels in the environments. As we learn from other emerging pollutants and experiences from CWA, aftermath cleanup costs are huge and many of these damages are irreversible. Lithium has been extensively used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, cameras, laptop computer, electric vehicles, etc. Lithium would be the next global contaminant of emerging concern if environmental agencies do not implement any proactive regulation soon. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.