Review
Environmental Sciences
Joana P. Fernandes, C. Marisa R. Almeida, Maria A. Salgado, Maria F. Carvalho, Ana P. Mucha
Summary: Various contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) have been detected in different ecosystems, threatening living organisms and the environment. Pharmaceuticals are among these contaminants, entering the environment mainly through wastewater treatment plants, and bioremediation technologies based on natural degrading bacteria seem promising for clean-up in natural environments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonin Kouba, Francisco J. Oficialdegui, Ross N. Cuthbert, Melina Kourantidou, Josie South, Elena Tricarico, Rodolphe E. Gozlan, Franck Courchamp, Phillip J. Haubrock
Summary: Invasive crustaceans, particularly crayfish and crabs, have resulted in increasing economic costs over time, with Europe and North America being major contributors. Main issues include lack of management costs reporting, dominance of damage-related costs, and insufficient data.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Diana Rede, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Virginia Cruz Fernandes
Summary: Plastic, a crucial material in modern society, has caused significant ecological stress due to high production rates and inadequate waste management. Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major environmental problem globally, affecting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the issue of MP pollution and highlights gaps in the existing literature for future research.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amin Mojiri, John L. Zhou, Harsha Ratnaweera, Shahabaldin Rezania, Mansoureh Nazari
Summary: This study focuses on the occurrence of PPCPs in natural water bodies globally and examines the impact of various factors on the fluxes of pollutants into receiving waterways. High concentrations of PPCPs in water bodies have harmful effects on aquatic organisms, while algae-based systems are found to be effective in removing certain PPCPs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kai Han, Yanjun Liu, Jianan Hu, Junjie Jia, Shujuan Sun
Summary: With the development of medical drugs, the widespread use of tetracycline has resulted in numerous adverse effects on the environment and human health. This study focused on the removal efficiency and mechanism of microalgae, specifically Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, in removing tetracycline from aqueous solutions. Results showed that active and inactivated microalgae achieved removal rates of 81.9% and 89.8% respectively. The research also highlighted the important role of microalgal biomass in promoting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhancing the ability of microalgae to remove tetracycline.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shyrill Mae F. Mariano, Luisa F. Angeles, Diana S. Aga, Cesar L. Villanoy, Caroline Marie B. Jaraula
Summary: This study examines the distribution, sources, and seasonal variability of pharmaceuticals in key aquatic systems in the Philippines. The results show that pharmaceuticals primarily come from hospital wastewater and various water sources, with higher concentrations observed during the dry season. Therefore, stricter wastewater management measures, particularly in communities near water bodies and tourist areas, are necessary to mitigate the potential impact on the environment.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Aemere Ogunlaja, Olumuyiwa O. Ogunlaja, Olumide D. Olukanni, Gloria O. Taylor, Chidinma G. Olorunnisola, Wassiyath Mousse, Despo Fatta-Kassinos, Titus A. M. Msagati, Emmanuel I. Unuabonah
Summary: This review summarizes the presence and distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes in African aquatic environments, revealing that larger economies in Africa have reports of ARB and ARGs while smaller economies lack such data. Common ARGs found in African aquatic environments include resistance to sulfonamide, tetracycline, beta-lactam, and macrolide classes of antibiotics.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Dhruti Sundar Pattanayak, Dharm Pal, Jyoti Mishra, Chandrakant Thakur, Kailas L. Wasewar
Summary: Tetracyclines (TCs) antibiotics are widely used in human and veterinary medicines, but their active residues released into the environment pose risks to ecosystems and human health. Photodegradation using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a photocatalyst provides a promising solution for complete antibiotic degradation. Doping g-C3N4 with elements improves its activity, broadens its light-responsive range, and reduces electron-hole recombination. This review discusses the design and efficiency of doped g-C3N4 for TCs degradation in aquatic environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ling Ding, Xiaoqin Yu, Xuetao Guo, Yaping Zhang, Zhuozhi Ouyang, Peng Liu, Chi Zhang, Tiecheng Wang, Hanzhong Jia, Lingyan Zhu
Summary: This study systematically investigated the photodegradation behaviors of PVC and PET in the presence of clay minerals. The results demonstrated that clay minerals, particularly kaolinite, significantly promoted the photodegradation of MPs, with a more pronounced effect on PET aging. Additionally, the study revealed that UV irradiation facilitated the photo-ionization reactions, leading to the generation of key reactive oxygen species contributing to the degradation of MPs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rui Ding, Zhuozhi Ouyang, Xue Zhang, Yankai Dong, Xuetao Guo, Lingyan Zhu
Summary: A study found that tire wear particles are rapidly colonized by microorganisms in aquatic environments and can form biofilms, affecting the photo degradation of tetracycline. The research also highlighted the importance of reactive oxygen species in this process, with virgin tire wear particles showing higher electron transfer capacity compared to biofilm-developed particles.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Thorsten Wagener, Simon J. Dadson, David M. Hannah, Gemma Coxon, Keith Beven, John P. Bloomfield, Wouter Buytaert, Hannah Cloke, Paul Bates, Joseph Holden, Louise Parry, Rob Lamb, Nick A. Chappell, Matthew Fry, Gareth Old
Summary: There are significant open questions in the field of hydrology, with the development of regional hydrological perceptual models being critical for tailoring scientific questions. The terrestrial water cycle model of Great Britain has six major knowledge gaps, and efforts should be made to reduce these gaps in the future.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kayley D. McCubbin, R. Michele Anholt, Ellen de Jong, Jennifer A. Ida, Diego B. Nobrega, John P. Kastelic, John M. Conly, Matthias Gotte, Tim A. McAllister, Karin Orsel, Ian Lewis, Leland Jackson, Graham Plastow, Hans-Joachim Wieden, Kathy McCoy, Myles Leslie, Joan L. Robinson, Lorian Hardcastle, Aidan Hollis, Nicholas J. Ashbolt, Sylvia Checkley, Gregory J. Tyrrell, Andre G. Buret, Elissa Rennert-May, Ellen Goddard, Simon J. G. Otto, Herman W. Barkema
Summary: The current limitations in the understanding and control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Canada require a One Health approach to address. Discussions on addressing the issues are mainly categorized into further research, increased resources, and policy development. Realistic recommendations and input from all stakeholders are necessary to achieve progress in addressing knowledge gaps and making substantial advancements.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Amber M. White, Michelle E. Nault, Katherine D. McMahon, Christina K. Remucal
Summary: This study combines laboratory and field data to identify the dominant loss processes of the herbicide 2,4-D in lakes, demonstrating the importance of microbial and photochemical degradation. Attempts to quantify transformation products were unsuccessful, but results suggest that their persistence is not a major concern.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Amber M. White, Michelle E. Nault, Katherine D. McMahon, Christina K. Remucal
Summary: Laboratory studies fail to accurately predict transformation rates of pesticides due to the absence of environmental conditions. This study combines laboratory and field data to identify the dominant loss processes of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicide in lakes. Irradiation studies show direct photodegradation of 2,4-D, but modeling suggests it is negligible in environmental conditions. Field campaigns and microcosm experiments reveal sediment microbial communities as responsible for 2,4-D degradation in lakes. The persistence of transformation products is not a major concern according to unsuccessful quantification in both laboratory and field studies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Terje Aven
Summary: The concept of risk is widely used in various fields, but there is ongoing debate on its definition and understanding. Several frameworks have been developed in recent years to provide clarity and structure, with a key feature being that uncertainty is a main component of risk. Despite this, there are various definitions and understandings of risk in practical applications, leading to a significant gap between contemporary risk science knowledge and its application.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Po Wang, Bowen Du, Jayme Smith, Wenjian Lao, Charles S. Wong, Eddy Y. Zeng
Summary: A passive sampler based on organic-diffusive gradients in thin films (o-DGT) was developed for monitoring microcystins (MCs) in waterbodies, showing effectiveness in assessing dissolved MCs. o-DGT demonstrated a lower time-weighted average MC concentration compared to grab sampling, indicating its potential limitations in capturing total MC levels in waterbodies.
Article
Ecology
A. K. Vanderpont, C. Lobson, Z. Lu, K. Luong, M. Arentsen, T. Vera, D. Moore, M. S. White, R. S. Prosser, C. S. Wong, M. L. Hanson
Summary: This study investigated the effects of Thiamethoxam on non-target invertebrate communities in wetlands and found that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of Thiamethoxam may not pose a significant ecological risk to the abundance and community structure of wetland zooplankton and emergent insects.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Rebecca J. Eldridge, Benjamin P. de Jourdan, Mark L. Hanson
Summary: There is a pressing need to understand the impact of contaminants on Arctic ecosystems. Most toxicity tests are based on temperate species, which may result in an underestimation of harm to Arctic organisms and contribute to significant uncertainty in risk assessments. A critical review was performed to assess reported effects, quantify methodological and endpoint relevance gaps, and identify future research needs. Evaluation of 48 studies revealed gaps in reliability and relevance for data used in risk assessment. Ongoing improvement in test conduction and reporting is necessary to support effective risk assessments in an Arctic context.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bowen Du, Wenjian Lao, Charles S. Wong, Karen McLaughlin, Kenneth Schiff
Summary: This study investigated the occurrence of fiproles in sediment in five habitats along the Southern California coastline and found that fipronil sulfone was the major contributor to toxicity effects in certain areas, posing high risks to benthic organisms. These results establish a baseline for fiproles in coastal sediments in southern California.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Po Wang, Jonathan K. Challis, Zi-Xuan He, Charles S. Wong, Eddy Y. Zeng
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of biofouling on the uptake of PFAS by o-DGT samplers. Results showed that biofouling significantly reduced the sampling rates and accumulated masses of PFAS. However, under typical flowing conditions, the impact of biofouling on target PFAS sampling by o-DGT was not significant, suggesting the importance of monitoring biofilm thickness in situ over long periods of time.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Samuel A. Patterson, Daniel T. J. Denton, Caleb T. Hasler, Jules M. Blais, Mark L. Hanson, Bruce P. Hollebone, Jose Luis Rodriguez-Gil, Valerie S. Langlois, Geraldine Patey, Zeyu Yang, Diane M. Orihel
Summary: This study investigates the effects of experimental spills of diluted bitumen on larval wood frogs. The results suggest that exposure to chemical compounds released from naturally weathered dilbit does not significantly impact survival, growth, or development of the larvae. However, a modest decrease in larval activity is observed.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hannah De Frond, Leah Thornton Hampton, Syd Kotar, Kristine Gesulga, Cindy Matuch, Wenjian Lao, Stephen B. Weisberg, Charles S. Wong, Chelsea M. Rochman
Summary: California Senate Bill 1422 requires the development of State-approved standardized methods for quantifying and characterizing microplastics in drinking water. A study was conducted involving 22 laboratories from six countries to evaluate widely used methods for microplastic analysis. The study found that FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were effective in identifying microplastics by polymer type, and participants demonstrated good recovery and chemical identification for particles larger than 50 μm.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren Timlick, Jamie Dearnley, Jules M. Blais, Jose L. Rodriguez-Gil, Mark Hanson, Bruce P. Hollebone, Diane M. Orihel, Lisa E. Peters, Sawyer S. Stoyanovich, Vince P. Palace
Summary: The study investigates the chronic exposure of fish to diluted bitumen spills in controlled environments. The results show that fish retrieval significantly decreased at exposures above a certain concentration. At lower concentrations, fish exhibited physiological responses to dilbit-derived polycyclic aromatic compounds. However, there were no significant differences in condition factor or the development of reproductive organs.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Troy Langknecht, Wenjian Lao, Charles S. Wong, Syd Kotar, Dounia El Khatib, Sandra Robinson, Robert M. Burgess, Kay T. Ho
Summary: This study compares two methods for analyzing microplastics in sediments and provides recommendations for improvement. Two laboratories processed sediment samples using two methods and identified particles with visual microscopy and spectroscopy. The study found that visual identification alone is not an accurate method to identify microplastics, but Raman and FTIR spectroscopy proved highly accurate. This research is the first to quantify complete method performance for microplastics in sediments and is essential for long-term environmental monitoring.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Syd Kotar, Rae McNeish, Clare Murphy-Hagan, Violet Renick, Chih-Fen T. Lee, Clare Steele, Amy Lusher, Charles Moore, Elizabeth Minor, Joseph Schroeder, Paul Helm, Keith Rickabaugh, Hannah De Frond, Kristine Gesulga, Wenjian Lao, Keenan Munno, Leah M. Thornton Hampton, Stephen B. Weisberg, Charles S. Wong, Gaurav Amarpuri, Robert C. Andrews, Steven M. Barnett, Silke Christiansen, Win Cowger, Kevin Crampond, Fangni Du, Andrew B. Gray, Jeanne Hankett, Kay Ho, Julia Jaeger, Claire Lilley, Lei Mai, Odette Mina, Eunah Lee, Sebastian Primpke, Samiksha Singh, Joakim Skovly, Theresa Slifko, Suja Sukumaran, Bert van Bavel, Jennifer Van Brocklin, Florian Vollnhals, Chenxi Wu, Chelsea M. Rochman
Summary: Microscopy is an important step in microplastic analysis as it provides valuable information on count, size, color, and morphology. A method evaluation study involving multiple laboratories showed that recovery rates varied based on particle morphology and color, with fibers having the poorest recovery and clear/white particles having larger deviations. More experienced laboratories tended to report higher concentrations with higher variance among replicates. Training and improvements in color and morphology keys can enhance accuracy and precision of microscopy for microplastics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenjian Lao, Charles S. Wong
Summary: Establishing analytical detection limits is crucial, but currently-used approaches for estimating the detection limit in microplastics analysis are inadequate. This study evaluates detection limits with techniques for low-level discrete observations and provides guidelines for estimation and application of microplastics minimum detectable amount (MDA) for more robust data.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rainer Lohmann, Branislav Vrana, Derek Muir, Foppe Smedes, Jaromir Sobotka, Eddy Y. Zeng, Lian-Jun Bao, Ian J. Allan, Peleg Astrahan, Ricardo O. Barra, Terry Bidleman, Evgen Dykyi, Nicolas Estoppey, Gilberto Fillmann, Naomi Greenwood, Paul A. Helm, Liisa Jantunen, Sarit Kaserzon, J. Vinicio Macias, Keith A. Maruya, Francisco Molina, Brent Newman, Raimon M. Prats, Manolis Tsapakis, Mats Tysklind, Barend L. van Drooge, Cameron J. Veal, Charles S. Wong
Summary: Passive samplers are effective in monitoring the distribution and trends of organic pollutants in aquatic systems. The results show that certain pollutants are more concentrated in northern latitudes/Arctic Ocean, while others tend to reach equilibrium across sampling sites. Additionally, the concentrations of some pollutants are closely related to their production and use, indicating limited global transport.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Madeleine Starks, Christina M. Schaefer, Kenneth M. Jeffries, David Deslauriers, Kim Hoang Luong, Charles S. Wong, Mark L. Hanson, Charles W. Knapp
Summary: This study aimed to quantify antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater released from a treatment plant in Iqaluit, Canada, and found that the relative abundances of ARGs were significantly higher in wastewater than in the receiving environment. However, the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the wastewater did not affect the receiving environment. Further research is needed to understand the impact and fate of antibiotic resistance and PPCPs in Arctic communities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stephanie D. Graves, Johanna J. Mason, Jose Luis Rodriguez-Gil, Jonathan Y. Seguin, Jules M. Blais, Mark L. Hanson, Bruce P. Hollebone, Vince P. Palace, Ian Clark, Leah Cundall, Daniel Layton-Matthews, Matthew I. Leybourne, Diane M. Orihel
Summary: Bacteria can biodegrade petroleum hydrocarbons after an oil spill, which could be assimilated by aquatic organisms. A study in a boreal lake in Canada examined the assimilation of petrogenic carbon into a freshwater food web after experimental spills of dilbit. The results showed minimal incorporation of oil carbon into the food web.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rainer Lohmann, Branislav Vrana, Derek Muir, Foppe Smedes, Jaromir Sobotka, Eddy Y. Zeng, Lian-Jun Bao, Ian J. Allan, Peleg Astrahan, Ricardo O. Barra, Terry Bidleman, Evgen Dykyi, Nicolas Estoppey, Gilberto Fillmann, Naomi Greenwood, Paul A. Helm, Liisa Jantunen, Sarit Kaserzon, J. Vinicio Macias, Keith A. Maruya, Francisco Molina, Brent Newman, Raimon M. Prats, Manolis Tsapakis, Mats Tysklind, Barend L. van Drooge, Cameron J. Veal, Charles S. Wong
Summary: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a global concern, but information on their trends in water has been missing. Passive samplers have emerged as an attractive alternative for monitoring POPs. Deployments of passive samplers at globally distributed sites showed variations in POPs concentrations, with some compounds displaying higher concentrations in specific regions. These results contribute to our understanding of the global distribution and transport of organic pollutants in aquatic systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)