Persistent water pollutants: case of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in the Czech Republic

Reuse and recycling of products composed of natural matter is relatively without significant environmental problems. However, recycling of products produced using modern synthetic technologies often brings new challenges. Our analysis has shown that substitution of citric acid with artificial substance of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid causes important environmental problems. The case study carried out in the Elbe river basin shows that the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid concentration standard has been exceeded, particularly from confluence of the Vltava and Elbe rivers. Open questions and tasks for future technological development and environmental policies are formulated, particularly the idea to replace artificial substances with nature-based ones. This would enable better introduction of circular economy ideas in the use of resources.