Roque, Maria InêsMaria InêsRoqueMartins, Rui C.Rui C.MartinsCharpentier, LoïcLoïcCharpentierPinelli, DavideDavidePinelliGirometti, ElisaElisaGiromettiAbdelrady, AhmedAhmedAbdelradyAntonelli, ManuelaManuelaAntonelliAgapiou, AgapiosAgapiosAgapiouRoccaro, PaoloPaoloRoccaroWullenweber, JonJonWullenweberJubany, IreneIreneJubanyVinardell, LauraLauraVinardellCantoni, BeatriceBeatriceCantoniPieczynska, AleksandraAleksandraPieczynskaMazierski, PawełPawełMazierskiNihemaiti, MaolidaMaolidaNihemaitiMiodyńska-Melzer, MagdalenaMagdalenaMiodyńska-MelzerCavdar, OnurOnurCavdarAzerrad, SaraSaraAzerradManiam, Kranthi KumarKranthi KumarManiamValente, Artur J.M.Artur J.M.ValentePereira, Matheus M.Matheus M.PereiraDurães, LuisaLuisaDurães2026-10-062026-10-062026-08-16Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 14 (5): 124641 (2026)https://hdl.handle.net/11420/65152Water disinfection by-products (DBPs) encompass a diverse array of chemical compounds with relevant toxicity that result from the interaction between disinfectants and the organic or inorganic substances present in natural waters. This review provides a comprehensive insight into DBP formation and their analytical quantification, addressing a critical topic in water treatment and public health. DBPs are attracting increasing attention of the research community and water-related companies due to current revisions in regulations, and the recognized need for environmental/health/governmental institutions to gather more data on these contaminants in drinking water. However, the knowledge on the formation and control of certain contaminants and the analytical techniques not always promptly advance in response to the requirements of regulation. For instance, in the case of DBPs, the analytical protocols for their quantification are not well developed for many families/compounds and vary significantly due to DBPs chemistry and low stability. Therefore, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding the critical analysis of the advances of research and confirmed analytical procedures on this topic. This review gives an in-depth and holistic analysis on: i) DBPs precursor compounds in source waters, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and anthropogenic organic chemicals (OCs); ii) chemical composition, reactivity and quantification methods for these precursors; iii) mechanisms of DBP formation during disinfection; iv) advances in analytical detection and quantification for DBPs; and vi) current regulatory framework. It further highlights emerging challenges, offering insights into evolving regulatory, technological, and scientific landscapes.en2213-343720265Elsevierhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Analytical quantificationDBP formation mechanismsDrinking waterNatural organic matterWater disinfectionWater quality regulationTechnology::628: Sanitary; Municipal::628.1: Water Supply SystemsSocial Sciences::363: Other Social Problems and ServicesReview Article10.1016/j.jece.2026.12464110.15480/882.18719