Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hong Fu, Pierre Gauzere, Jorge Garcia Molinos, Peiyu Zhang, Huan Zhang, Min Zhang, Yuan Niu, Hui Yu, Lee E. Brown, Jun Xu
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of 440 aquatic restoration projects in the northwest Taihu basin, China, finding significant improvements in water quality and benthic invertebrate biological indices across most of the study area, mainly due to projects targeting pollution sources.
Review
Environmental Sciences
A. Kock, H. C. Glanville, A. C. Law, T. Stanton, L. J. Carter, J. C. Taylor
Summary: Pharmaceuticals are an important group of emerging pollutants with the potential to harm wildlife and humans. They have been detected in various types of water bodies and the organisms living in them. Traditional wastewater treatment is unable to completely remove pharmaceuticals, leading to their discharge into aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about the effects of pharmaceuticals on phytoplankton, especially diatoms, which are crucial organisms in aquatic systems. This review aims to present a synthesis of research on pharmaceutical exposure to diatoms, exploring their ecotoxicity, bioremediation potential, and use as bio-indicators for water quality assessment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Montecinos, S. Tognana, W. Salgueiro, C. Frosinini
Summary: The temporal variation of microplastic concentration was examined in the Langueyu stream in Tandil, Argentina. It was found that winter had the highest microplastic concentration, about 6 times higher than summer and autumn. This difference was not due to precipitation but rather associated with seasonal human activities, particularly the type of clothing used in cold season. Microfibers accounted for 60-90% of the microplastics found.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Daniel Enns, Sarah Cunze, Nathan Jay Baker, Joerg Oehlmann, Jonas Jourdan
Summary: Wastewater treatment plants are essential but ineffective at removing micropollutants from treated effluents before releasing them into aquatic environments, which can negatively impact freshwater fauna and insect communities. This study comprehensively investigated the effects of 170 WWTPs on invertebrate taxonomic composition and found that pollution tolerant taxa were favored while sensitive taxa were negatively impacted downstream of WWTPs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabella Sanseverino, Livia Gomez, Anna Navarro, Francesca Cappelli, Magdalena Niegowska, Armin Lahm, Maurizio Barbiere, Elena Porcel-Rodriguez, Sara Valsecchi, Rosalba Pedraccini, Simone Crosta, Teresa Lettieri
Summary: Wastewater treatment plants play a critical role in reducing pollutant load in the environment, but they still pose a potential risk as sources of contaminants. This study assessed the efficiency of pollutant and bacteria removal in a WWTP case study using a holistic approach. The results showed significant reduction in pollutant burden, but complete removal was not achieved.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica I. Nieto-Juarez, Ricardo A. Torres-Palma, A. M. Botero-Coy, Felix Hernandez
Summary: The study revealed that the wastewater treatment processes in major Peruvian cities such as Lima are not efficient in removing pharmaceutical substances, posing severe environmental risks. Additional treatment methods are needed to ensure more effective elimination of these compounds.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Enrique J. Flores-Munguia, Jose Luis Rosas-Acevedo, Aurelio Ramirez-Hernandez, Alejandro Aparicio-Saguilan, Rosa M. Brito-Carmona, Juan Violante-Gonzalez
Summary: This research evaluates the presence of microplastics in influents and effluents from three wastewater treatment plants in the port of Acapulco, Mexico, and finds that the removal efficiencies of microplastics are high. The study also reveals the large quantities of microplastic particles emitted into the water bodies every day and every year by the wastewater treatment plants, indicating the urgency of implementing regulatory policies to control and eliminate microplastic emissions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ilunga Kamika, Shohreh Azizi, Adolph A. Muleja, Ramganesh Selvarajan, Mohamed Azab El-Liethy, Bheki B. Mamba, Thabo T. I. Nkambule
Summary: The continuous influx of opioid compounds into aquatic environments has raised concerns due to their extensive use. Wastewater treatment plants are unable to completely remove these compounds, leading to high concentrations of opioids in downstream surface water. Measures need to be taken to address the increasing presence of opioid analogues in aquatic environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Heloisa Ehalt Macedo, Bernhard Lehner, Jim Nicell, Gunther Grill, Jing Li, Antonio Limtong, Ranish Shakya
Summary: The main objective of wastewater treatment plants is to remove pollutants from wastewater before it is discharged into waterbodies. However, these plants cannot remove all contaminants, making them concentrated sources of residual pollution. Detailed information about these plants, including their locations and characteristics, is crucial for understanding the impact of their discharges and improving their management. A global database, called HydroWASTE, has been developed to provide information on over 58,000 wastewater treatment plants worldwide.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Simona Ceschin, Amii Bellini, Massimiliano Scalici
Summary: This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art, limitations, critical issues, and new directions in freshwater plant ecotoxicology. The main issues identified include narrow range of species and endpoints considered, lack of environmental relevance, excessively short exposure times, and potential reactions between toxicants and culture media.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Khirbet Lopez-Velazquez, Jorge L. Guzman-Mar, Hugo A. Saldarriaga-Norena, Mario A. Murillo-Tovar, Minerva Villanueva-Rodriguez
Summary: The study investigated the ecological risk associated with five endocrine-disrupting compounds in wastewater treatment plants in Monterrey, Mexico. The results showed that the effluents from these plants pose a high risk to organisms in water bodies due to the presence of residual estrogens, with a particular concern for 17 beta-estradiol and 17a-ethinylestradiol.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Patrick T. Gauthier, Tamzin A. Blewett, Emily R. Garman, Christian E. Schlekat, Elizabeth T. Middleton, Emily Suominen, Anne Cremazy
Summary: The Arctic faces various environmental challenges, including the exploitation of mineral resources like nickel. Responsible development of nickel mining in the Arctic requires a risk assessment framework specific to the region. Further research is needed to assess the exposure and effects of nickel in aquatic Arctic ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
D. Zabka, A. Vojs Stanova, I. Horakova, A. Butor Skulcova, R. Grabic, V. Spalkova, M. Gal, T. Mackul'ak
Summary: As WWTPs cannot completely remove all psychoactive pharmaceuticals, these compounds become part of the aquatic ecosystem. Our study reveals that certain compounds like codeine or citalopram have low elimination efficiency (<38%), while compounds like venlafaxine, oxazepam, or tramadol have almost no elimination efficiency. This accumulation of compounds in the wastewater treatment process may be the cause of the lower elimination efficiency. The study focuses on the potential use of aquatic plants to remove these problematic psychoactive compounds.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY B-ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE BIOMEDICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Changhui Wang, Zheng Hao, Chenghao Huang, Qianhong Wang, Zaisheng Yan, Leilei Bai, Helong Jiang, Dongdong Li
Summary: A novel recycling method using drinking water treatment residue (DWTR) is proposed in this study, which was shown to be highly feasible for simultaneously controlling PAHs and phosphorus pollution in sediment.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
David M. Kennes-Veiga, Lorena Gonzalez-Gil, Marta Carballa, Juan M. Lema
Summary: This review focuses on the metabolic activities, mechanisms, and enzymatic activities involved in the biotransformation of organic micropollutants in wastewater treatment plants under different redox environments. Common methodologies for studying such enzymes, including in vitro enzyme assays, enzymatic inhibitors, analysis of transformation products, and various -omic techniques, are discussed. Perspectives on major challenges and future research requirements to enhance the biotransformation of organic micropollutants are proposed.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas Wagner, Fatma Al-Manji, Jie Xue, Koen Wetser, Vinnie de Wilde, John R. Parsons, Huub H. M. Rijnaarts, Alette A. M. Langenhoff
Summary: Petroleum-industry wastewater can be a potential source of reusable water, with constructed wetlands capable of removing harmful fractions. Increasing salinity negatively impacts the efficiency of wetlands in removing harmful substances, with vegetation playing a crucial role in enhancing the removal of certain chemicals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Emma M. N. Polman, Gert-Jan M. Gruter, John R. Parsons, Albert Tietema
Summary: This review compares the biodegradation rates and mechanisms of biodegradable plastics made from biopolymers with unmodified biopolymers, and finds that structural changes during the production process affect the biodegradation process. Future research should focus on conducting long-term field experiments to better understand biodegradation processes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mariano Gonzalez Garcia, Carmen Fernandez-Lopez
Summary: The study evaluated the uptake of ibuprofen in horticultural crops irrigated with WWTP effluents, finding detectable levels only in certain crops without posing any risk to human health.
BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yue Wang, Maria A. Murcia Valderrama, Robert-Jan van Putten, Charlie J. E. Davey, Albert Tietema, John R. Parsons, Bing Wang, Gert-Jan M. Gruter
Summary: The increasing demand for plastics and the need for reducing global CO2 emissions necessitate a transition to alternative polymer materials that are recyclable and biodegradable. In this study, the Respicond parallel respirometer was used to investigate the degradation of polyesters. The results showed that the tested polymers mineralized faster than cellulose in soil. The proposed methodology allows for cost-effective and time-efficient (bio)degradability studies, while maintaining high scientific quality. Additionally, the tested polymers were found to hydrolyze non-enzymatically at similar rates in water, indicating their potential for soil and marine biodegradability.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Aaron D. Redman, Jens Bietz, John W. Davis, Delina Lyon, Erin Maloney, Amelie Ott, Jens C. Otte, Frederic Palais, John R. Parsons, Neil Wang
Summary: Assessing the persistence of chemicals in the environment is crucial for protecting human health and ecosystems, but existing evaluation schemes may lead to inaccurate assessments. Developing flexible and comprehensive evaluation frameworks, along with a weight-of-evidence approach, is necessary. The current research aims to develop an integrated assessment framework for a more thorough evaluation of persistence using multimedia approaches and a clear WoE approach.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Russell Davenport, Pippa Curtis-Jackson, Philipp Dalkmann, Jordan Davies, Kathrin Fenner, Laurence Hand, Kathleen McDonough, Amelie Ott, Jose Julio Ortega-Calvo, John R. Parsons, Andreas Schaffer, Cyril Sweetlove, Stefan Trapp, Neil Wang, Aaron Redman
Summary: This paper discusses the challenges and limitations facing current methods for evaluating the persistence of chemical substances and the scientific advances that are helping to address these issues. The advancements mentioned include a deeper understanding of microbial composition, benchmarking tools and reference substances, analytical methods for quantification at environmentally relevant concentrations, modeling tools for predicting microbial biotransformation, and modeling approaches for deriving more generally applicable biotransformation rate constants. However, the translation of these advancements into regulatory practice and the development of new OECD test guidelines need improvement and acceleration.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Johan A. van Leeuwen, Jan Gerritse, Niels Hartog, Siegmund Ertl, John R. Parsons, S. Majid Hassanizadeh
Summary: The anaerobic degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons in a plume originating from a Pintsch gas tar-DNAPL zone was investigated using molecular, isotopic- and microbial analyses. The results showed that benzene concentrations decreased significantly at the nitrate reducing plume fringe, indicating a higher loss of benzene compared to other compounds in that zone. The biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminants appeared to be more significant at the iron reducing conditions in the plume core, due to its larger volume, rather than the nitrate reducing conditions in the smaller volume of the fringe zone. The study also revealed distinctive variations in contaminant concentration reductions between the source, plume, and fringe zones.
JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yue Wang, Charlie J. E. Davey, Kevin Van der Maas, Robert-Jan Van Putten, Albert Tietema, John R. Parsons, Gert-Jan M. Gruter
Summary: In order to reduce plastic accumulation in the environment, the interest in biodegradable plastics is growing in the market. A novel fully renewable poly(isosorbide-co-diol) oxalate (PISOX-diol) copolyester with high glass transition temperature (T-g) and fast biodegradability has been developed. The biodegradability of a representative copolyester, poly(isosorbide-co-1,6-hexanediol) oxalate (PISOX-HDO), was evaluated in soil and marine environment. The results showed that PISOX-HDO mineralized faster than cellulose and the non-enzymatic hydrolysis played a crucial role in the biodegradation mechanism. The combination of high T-g and fast biodegradability makes PISOX-HDO copolyester ideal for short term applications.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Nico M. van Straalen, Klaas H. den Haan, Joop L. M. Hermens, Kees van Leeuwen, Dik van de Meent, John R. Parsons, Pim de Voogt, Dick de Zwart
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Carmen Fernandez -Lopez, Rosa Posada-Baquero, Jose -Julio Ortega-Calvo
Summary: Organic contaminants released from military activities can be classified into infrastructure and base operations, training exercises and armed conflicts, containing potentially toxic compounds, energetic compounds, chemical warfare agents and military chemical compounds. Bioremediation and phytoremediation are considered eco-friendly and low-cost technologies for remediation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose Carlos Castilla-Alcantara, Rosa Posada-Baquero, Maria Balseiro-Romero, Carmen Fernandez-Lopez, Jose Luis Garcia, Alicia Fernandez-Vazquez, John R. Parsons, Manuel Cantos, Jose Julio Ortega-Calvo
Summary: The productive application of motile microorganisms for degrading hydrophobic contaminants in soil is a promising process in remediation. However, it may increase the toxicity in soil and mobilize the pollutants through biosorption. Therefore, controlling these factors is essential in soil remediation approaches.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Federica Persico, Frederic Coulon, Melissa Ladyman, Carmen Fernandez Lopez, Tracey Temple
Summary: The environmental impact of Insensitive High Explosive (IHE) detonation residues on soil quality was evaluated through outdoor soil mesocosm experiments. The study found that the IHE concentrations tested on pristine soil had no negative effects on soil quality indicators, while the degraded soil showed a 24% reduction in environmental quality index due to decreased chemical and biological components. It is concluded that the impact of IHE residues on soil health can vary depending on the soil condition, and further research is needed especially in areas with frequent detonations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dik van de Meent, Dick de Zwart, Jaap Struijs, Joop L. M. Hermens, Nico M. van Straalen, Klaas H. den Haan, John R. Parsons, Pim de Voogt, Kees van Leeuwen
Summary: This paper presents a simple modeling procedure to calculate the 'expected risk' (ER) of chemical substances. The procedure combines multimedia environmental fate modeling and species sensitivity modeling to determine the probability of exposure concentrations exceeding critical effect concentrations. The study found that the ER and Risk Quotient (RQ) of chemicals can be easily calculated and used to assess environmental safety and rank chemicals accordingly. The paper suggests that modeling ER instead of estimating RQ values could enhance the scientific basis of environmental risk assessment in REACH, and recommends the use of acute EC50 as the critical effect concentration for more robust risk calculation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yan Dong, Supta Das, John R. Parsons, Antonia Praetorius, Eva de Rijke, Rick Helmus, J. Chris Slootweg, Boris Jansen
Summary: Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) may contain pesticides and pharmaceutical residues, posing potential threats to soils, crops, and human health. A new QuEChERS method (IQM) was developed to simultaneously analyze 78 pesticides and 18 pharmaceuticals in BBFs of different origins. The IQM improved extraction efficiency and achieved good recovery rates and low detection limits for the contaminants. Screening of BBF samples revealed the presence of pesticides and pharmaceuticals, with ibuprofen being frequently detected.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alexander M. Cancelli, Frank A. P. C. Gobas
Summary: A mechanistic model was developed to assess the removal efficiency of pollutants in a wetland system, particularly in oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). The model simulated wetland mechanisms of chemical removal and showed that sustained wetland treatment is feasible. It is a helpful tool to evaluate the feasibility of treatment systems and to assess trade-offs in wetland design and operation.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Prakash Singh Thapa, Hiromu Daimaru, Seiji Yanai
Summary: This study assessed the vegetation recovery and erosion condition in a landslide area in central Japan. The results show that the upper slope, where reforestation activities were implemented, has seen significant vegetation recovery and no significant erosion, while the lower slope lacks vegetation and has experienced continued erosion.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Mike Jerauld, Forrest Dierberg, Thomas DeBusk, Scott Jackson, Kevin Grace, John Juston
Summary: The Everglades Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) are constructed wetlands built to remove phosphorus (P) from agricultural and urban runoff in support of Everglades restoration. Research shows that the levels of calcium (Ca) and alkalinity (Alk) have an impact on phosphorus removal in these wetlands.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Kalindhi Larios, Stefan Gerber, Rafael Munoz-Carpena, Patrick Inglett, K. Ramesh Reddy, Michael Chimney
Summary: This study modeled the phosphorus biogeochemical dynamics in one of the best performing Everglades treatment wetlands and found that the complexity of the hydrological system significantly affected the simulated water column P concentration. The modeling tool developed in this study can guide future data collection and optimization efforts for treatment wetlands in the Everglades.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jing Hu, Benjamin Baiser, R. Thomas James, K. Ramesh Reddy
Summary: This study examined the long-term phosphorus retention in Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) and identified the factors influencing their performance. The results showed that the operational performance of STAs improved over time. There were notable differences among individual STAs, with the co-precipitation of phosphorus with calcium playing a critical role in one of the STAs. This highlights the complexity of phosphorus removal in STAs and the need for site-specific management strategies.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Odi Villapando, K. R. Reddy, J. King
Summary: The biogeochemical response to different flow conditions within two parallel flow-ways in Everglades Stormwater Treatment Area (STA)-2 was studied. It was found that there was a gradual decrease in the total phosphorus (TP) concentration from inflow to outflow for both emergent aquatic vegetation (EAV) and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) dominated systems, with EAV showing a higher reduction rate. Significant increase in TP concentration was observed in the SAV system under no flow condition, possibly due to the production of particulate phosphorus (PP) through various mechanisms.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2024)
