Although we use the term ‘emerging contaminants’ to describe the numerous chemicals associated with modern human lifestyle which have inadvertently worked their way into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the better term is ‘unregulated contaminants.’ PPCPs (pharmaceuticals and personal care products) and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) often fall into the category of ‘unregulated contaminant’ because policy only focuses on how they may affect the patient or consumer rather than the fate of these contaminants in the environment. Connecting together different researchers is necessary to the larger problem of how we reduce environmental impact without restricting access to treatments for diseases and safer cosmetics. In this Inspire sessions, speakers from both inside and outside the policy-making process will present novel research on unregulated contaminants including pharmaceuticals and new pesticides as well as the novel physical contaminant microplastics. The goal of the session is to present a series of interlocking talks which, together, provide points of collaboration across seemingly disparate research topics. Speakers will present a variety of methods to address this complex problem as well as ways that their work can be translated into policy goals with a focus on aquatic and marine ecosystems. In the spirit of this year’s theme, this session aims to bring a holistic approach to the problem of unregulated contaminants by showing where we are, where we can go, and all the steps being taken by academic researchers and regulatory agencies to get us there.