PubMed · 2026-03-20
Researchers propose a 'treatable-by-design' framework for chemicals that cannot be made environmentally safe during use — instead designing them to be efficiently removed by existing water treatment technologies as a fallback defense against pollution.
Current 'safe-by-design' chemical frameworks fail for applications requiring high chemical stability, creating an inherent conflict between usefulness and environmental safety.
Three water treatment pathways — biodegradation, advanced separation (activated carbon and membranes), and oxidation processes — are identified as the core toolkit for removing 'treatable-by-design' chemicals.
The 'treatable-by-design' concept is proposed as a second line of defense, intended to minimize environmental exposure when safe-by-design alternatives are not feasible.