Environmental and health implications of emerging pollutants in landfill leachate: a review

Abstract Landfill leachate is a complex byproduct of municipal solid waste disposal and a significant source of emerging pollutants, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), nanoparticles, and other co-occurring contaminants. These substances pose environmental and human-health concerns because of their persistence, mobility, bioaccumulation potential, and toxic effects. This review systematically examined recent literature on emerging pollutants in landfill leachate, with emphasis on environmental contamination, human-health implications, and evidence gaps. A PRISMA 2020-guided search of Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science identified 115 records published between 2015 and 2024; 68 full-text articles were assessed and 50 studies were included in the final synthesis. The findings show that emerging pollutants in landfill leachate are associated with contamination of groundwater, surface water, and soil, with reported effects including ecosystem disruption, endocrine activity, carcinogenic risk, and reproductive toxicity. The review also shows that the evidence base is methodologically heterogeneous and geographically imbalanced, with strong representation from global comparative studies and Asia, but limited primary evidence from many other regions. In addition, most studies assessed pollutants individually, despite landfill leachate functioning as a complex contaminant mixture. The review therefore highlights the need for harmonized monitoring protocols, stronger regulatory frameworks, advanced treatment technologies, and mixture-oriented risk assessment to improve landfill leachate management and better protect environmental and public health.