Advances in Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Detection of Aquatic Environmental Pollutants

The deterioration of aquatic ecosystems now ranks among the most urgent planetary challenges, with cascading effects on species survival, human welfare, and socioeconomic progress. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), owing to its exceptional sensitivity, molecular fingerprinting capability, and rapid response, has become a powerful analytical technique for detecting water pollutants. This article provides a comprehensive summary of recent improvements in the use of SERS for detecting water pollutants. To begin with, SERS substrates are categorized into three major types—metallic, semiconductor, and composite—based on their distinct enhancement mechanisms. Building upon this classification, their use in detecting a wide range of aquatic pollutants, including heavy metal ions, pathogenic microorganisms, organic compounds, and micro/nano plastics, is examined. Strategies for substrate design, sensitivity enhancement methods, and practical detection performance in real‐world samples are also systematically reviewed. Finally, the review discusses challenges in applying SERS to water pollution monitoring and outlines future research directions. This review aims to provide valuable insights for advancing SERS‐based strategies in environmental monitoring and promoting their practical application in water pollution detection.