Taste and odor in water supplies: A review of producers, adverse effects, detection, and mitigation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Water quality is deteriorating globally due to human activities and climate change, increasing health risks associated with contaminated drinking water. Odorants, generally referred to as taste and odor (T&O) compounds, produced by aquatic algae and other microorganisms have been widely reported in contaminated water bodies. We analyzed published reports of natural T&O compounds in water and created a database containing 474 entries. The most frequent compounds detected were geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), with concentration levels ranging from μg/L to mg/L. T&O compounds, in general, are mainly produced by cyanobacteria and actinobacteria. We explored the health, ecological, and economic adverse effects of T&O compounds, and analyzed how light, temperature, and nutrients impact their concentrations and activities in natural waters. Current detection and mitigation methods are discussed, emphasizing the need for integrated, cost-effective approaches. Future work should combine interdisciplinary approaches to characterize natural T&O compounds, and advance analytical and treatment technologies to ensure safe water use and protect public health. This review provides an integrative synthesis of current knowledge and outlines future directions, thereby offering a novel, interdisciplinary framework for advancing research and management of T&O compounds. • Comprehensive Review—Synthesis of taste and odor (T&O), covering sources, impacts, drivers, detection, and mitigation. • Novel Database—Creates a curated database linking 474 biological sources (algae and microorganisms) to 46 T&O compounds. • Quantitative Analysis—Summarizes correlation data from 32 studies to reveal key factors influencing T&O production. • Enhanced Accessibility—Includes 5 figures and 3 tables f to clearly present complex data, aiding diverse readers.
Source: Water Biology and Security
Institutions: Yunnan University, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Yunnan Environmental Protection Bureau, Griffith University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lincoln University, Aarhus University, Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research, Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funders: Department of Human Resources, National Science Foundation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department, National Institutes of Health, Einstein Professorship Programme
Awards: Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, G2817221146, G4343482671, DISES: Coproducing Actionable Science to Understand, Mitigate, and Adapt to Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (CHABS), G6640286955, G6754516424, Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, G7630771776, Our lakes, Our future: holistic approaches to transform lake management and restoration in a changing world, G96100285
OpenAlex ID: W7148453453