Article
Environmental Sciences
Somayeh Golbaz, Kamyar Yaghmaeian, Siavash Isazadeh, Mirzaman Zamanzadeh
Summary: This research aimed to identify high-risk pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) by analyzing the occurrence, persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of 62 drugs widely used in Iran. The study utilized multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for risk assessment and prioritization of PhACs, showing that using unequal weights in the utility function is a more conservative and effective approach for prioritization.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Romain Figuiere, Sylvia Waara, Lutz Ahrens, Oksana Golovko
Summary: This study evaluated the risk posed by organic micropollutants to aquatic ecosystems in Swedish freshwaters, identifying several substances that may pose a risk and highlighting the potential impact of wastewater treatment plant effluent on aquatic ecosystems in different locations.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Swathi Satish, Aayush Dey, Maithri Tharmavaram, Nitasha Khatri, Deepak Rawtani
Summary: The long-term effects of pharmaceutical residues on wildlife are still not fully understood, but quick and reliable methods for their detection are needed. Aptasensors, based on biological recognition, are highly specific and have the potential to be used for the detection of pharmaceutical residues in wildlife.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Matthew C. C. Fisher, David W. W. Denning
Summary: Invasive fungal diseases are increasing globally. The World Health Organization has identified fungi of critical importance to human health and suggests various actions including improved surveillance, research and innovation, and public-health interventions.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Raja Yahmadi, Kais Brik, Faouzi ben Ammar
Summary: This paper critically evaluates manufacturing process defects of solar gel battery with a novel approach combining FMEA, fuzzy logic method, and Pareto chart, aiming to identify failure modes, causes, effects, and suggest corrective actions. The proposed method efficiently assesses the manufacturing process defects of solar gel battery.
ENGINEERING FAILURE ANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Justyna Durak, Tomasz Rokoszak, Alicja Skiba, Przemyslaw Furman, Katarzyna Styszko
Summary: The study investigated the concentration of biocides in surface waters at three locations in southern Poland and found seasonal variations, with the highest concentrations in the Wisa River. According to EU directive 2013/39/EU, cybutryne exceeded the maximum allowable concentration in the Wisa River water.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Calogero Vetro, Valeria Di Giacomo, Donato Mannina, Silvana Magrin, Antonio Mule, Maria Enza Mitra, Sergio Siragusa, Andrea Duminuco, Bruno Garibaldi, Maria Cristina Emanuela Vadala, Francesco Di Raimondo, Giuseppe A. Palumbo
Summary: This prospective observational study confirms the efficacy of erythropoietin zeta in the treatment of low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in hemoglobin levels with the use of erythropoietin zeta.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
James T. Isaacs, Philip J. Almeter, Bradley S. Henderson, Aaron N. Hunter, Thomas L. Platt, Robert A. Lodder
Summary: The U.S. FDA is a global leader in drug regulation and applies good manufacturing practices. However, investigative journalists have identified issues in the drug supply, as pharmacies are not required to test received drugs. The University of Kentucky Drug Quality Study performs screening on injectable drugs and shares findings with FDA, practitioners, and the public. The establishment of a Sentinel Screening Network could provide additional independent data on drug quality to the FDA.
APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jiaqi Wang, Tom M. Nolte, Stewart F. Owen, Remy Beaudouin, A. Jan Hendriks, Ad M. J. Ragas
Summary: A generalized fish PBK model has been developed in this study, which can be applied to different chemicals and species, improving the efficiency of environmental risk assessment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Senar Aydin, Arzu Ulvi, Fatma Beduk, Mehmet Emin Aydin
Summary: The occurrences, temporal variations and ecotoxicological risks of 38 selected pharmaceuticals from 7 therapeutic classes have been observed in the anaerobically treated sludge of the urban wastewater treatment plant in Konya, Turkey. The total concentrations of all pharmaceutical compounds ranged from 280 to 4898 μg/kg of dry matter. The dominant therapeutic class was analgesics and anti-inflammatories, and the use of treated sludge as fertilizer in agricultural lands causes continuous contamination of the terrestrial environment by pharmaceuticals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sathish Sundararaman, J. Aravind Kumar, Prabu Deivasigamani, Yuvarajan Devarajan
Summary: The presence of pharmaceutical residues in water resources poses significant hazards to the environment and necessitates assessment and mitigation measures. Various pharmaceutical components can be detected in water, causing negative effects on marine species and biodegradation activities. Synergic effects and ecotoxicological hazard assessments must be developed. Traditional effluent treatment methods are ineffective in removing active pharmaceutical ingredients from water, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring in aquatic ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arzu Ulvi, Senar Aydin, Mehmet Emin Aydin
Summary: This study examined the concentrations and distribution of pharmaceuticals in the influent and effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant and hospital effluents. It found that beta-blockers and psychiatric drugs were detected in high concentrations in the wastewater samples, with hospitals contributing 2-4% of total pharmaceuticals in the plant. The removal of pharmaceuticals in the treatment plant ranged from 23% to 54%.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(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
Alejandro Cunat, Rodrigo Alvarez-Ruiz, Maria M. Morales Suarez-Varela, Yolanda Pico
Summary: This study analyzed and identified the organic pollutants in sludge using a generic extraction method and UHPLC-HRMS technology. The results showed that sludge samples contain a variety of organic compounds, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The study also confirmed the structure of some compounds through screening and analysis.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nagihan E. Korkmaz, Basak Savun-Hekimoglu, Abdullah Aksu, Selmin Burak, Nuray Balkis Caglar
Summary: The occurrence and spatial distribution of selected pharmaceuticals in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey, were investigated. All target pharmaceutical compounds were detected at least once in the study area, with gemfibrozil being the most frequently detected compound at high concentrations. The presence of these compounds in April was higher than in October. Risk assessment results showed that some of these pharmaceuticals pose a high risk to aquatic organisms in the Sea of Marmara.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Margot Olive, Felix Moerman, Xavier Fernandez-Cassi, Florian Altermatt, Tamar Kohn
Summary: Biological treatment of waterborne viruses through protists' grazing behavior is effective and consistent, regardless of the presence of multiple viruses. The extent of virus removal is correlated with an increase in the protists' swimming speed, indicating a response to the availability of food. The feeding behavior is likely driven by the hydrophobicity of the viruses, rather than their size or the presence of a lipid envelope.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lea Caduff, David Dreifuss, Tobias Schindler, Alexander J. Devaux, Pravin Ganesanandamoorthy, Anina Kull, Elyse Stachler, Xavier Fernandez-Cassi, Niko Beerenwinkel, Tamar Kohn, Christoph Ort, Timothy R. Julian
Summary: This study adapts a rapid, high-throughput method to detect and quantify the relative frequency of characteristic deletions of the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma variants of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The results provide insights into the transmission fitness advantage of the Alpha variant and demonstrate the potential of wastewater surveillance for real-time monitoring of VOCs.
Article
Ecology
Marie-Helene Corre, Virginie Bachmann, Tamar Kohn
Summary: In this study, the inactivation of Echovirus-11 and Coxsackievirus-A9 by bacteria isolated from Lake Geneva was investigated. Results showed that majority of bacterial species can cause significant reduction of CVA9, while fewer species had lower inactivation effects on E11. The study also confirmed the role of matrix metalloproteases as effective controls on the environmental persistence of enteroviruses.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jenna Senecal, Annika Christina Nordin, Loic Decrey, Tamar Kohn, Bjoern Vinneras
Summary: Human urine can be used as fertilizer and alkaline-urine treatment is being developed for easier reuse. However, there is a risk of pathogen presence. This study examined the inactivation of three model organisms during alkaline-urine treatment and drying, and found that drying with alkaline-urine is effective in reducing viable eggs of the parasite, but partial drying of urine resulted in longer inactivation times compared to wet or dry conditions. Virus inactivation occurred during the addition of calcium hydroxide, but embedded viruses in feces had longer survival times. Thermal treatment and storage are recommended for parasite-prone areas, and drying can be used in combination to speed up the process.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Ling Jin, Amy Pruden, Alexandria B. Boehm, Pedro J. J. Alvarez, Lutgarde Raskin, Tamar Kohn, Xiangdong Li
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laurent Boualit, Hugo Cayuela, Loic Cattin, Nathalie Chevre
Summary: This study found that both organophosphates have effects on acetylcholinesterase activity in Xenopus laevis, but not on other biochemical traits. Exposure to chlorpyrifos also impacts morphological and life-history traits, suggesting alterations in locomotor traits. The results indicate lower sensitivity of 4-day-old embryos to chlorpyrifos compared to 8-day-old larvae.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shotaro Torii, Marie-Helene Corre, Fuminari Miura, Masae Itamochi, Kei Haga, Kazuhiko Katayama, Hiroyuki Katayama, Tamar Kohn
Summary: The study examined the inactivation kinetics of different enterovirus variants by free chlorine and UV irradiation, revealing that the inactivation mechanisms of free chlorine are genotype- and genogroup-dependent, while UV inactivation mainly depends on genomic size and composition. The distribution of inactivation rate constants and the abundance of each genotype are crucial parameters in accurately predicting the overall inactivation of an enterovirus population by free chlorine.
Article
Microbiology
Katharina Jahn, David Dreifuss, Ivan Topolsky, Anina Kull, Pravin Ganesanandamoorthy, Xavier Fernandez-Cassi, Carola Banziger, Alexander J. Devaux, Elyse Stachler, Lea Caduff, Federica Cariti, Alex Tunas Corzon, Lara Fuhrmann, Chaoran Chen, Kim Philipp Jablonski, Sarah Nadeau, Mirjam Feldkamp, Christian Beisel, Catharine Aquino, Tanja Stadler, Christoph Ort, Tamar Kohn, Timothy R. Julian, Niko Beerenwinkel
Summary: Genomic sequencing of wastewater samples can provide early detection and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The COJAC bioinformatics method based on variant-specific signature mutations is a robust indicator of low-frequency variants. Analysis of multiple wastewater samples allows for estimation of variant prevalence and transmission fitness advantage.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julia Gonzalez-Holguera, Marie Gaille, Maria del Rio Carral, Julia Steinberger, Joachim Marti, Nolwenn Buhler, Alain Kaufmann, Luca Chiapperino, Ana Maria Vicedo Cabrera, Joelle Schwarz, Anneliese Depoux, Francesco Panese, Nathalie Chevre, Nicolas Senn
Summary: Global anthropogenic environmental degradations, including climate change, are seen as critical public health issues and the concept of Planetary Health recognizes the interdependent relationships between living organisms and ecosystems. Healthcare professionals are calling for greater recognition and adoption of this perspective. However, current Western healthcare systems face limitations in providing affordable, equitable, and sustainable healthcare services, with primary care and public health being undervalued. To address the impacts of environmental degradations, healthcare services need to transform and integrate socio-environmental determinants of health, while also strengthening collaborations and developing environmentally-centered models of care. This requires synergies between health and sustainability institutions and actors.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liviana K. Klein, Beiping Luo, Nir Bluvshtein, Ulrich K. Krieger, Aline Schaub, Irina Glas, Shannon C. David, Kalliopi Violaki, Ghislain Motos, Marie O. Pohl, Walter Hugentobler, Athanasios Nenes, Silke Stertz, Thomas Peter, Tamar Kohn
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shotaro Torii, Shannon Christa David, Odile Larive, Federica Cariti, Tamar Kohn
Summary: The virucidal efficacies of disinfectants vary depending on the host cell used in the infectivity assay. Different host cells may have different entry routes for enteroviruses, and the choice of host cell can affect the observed inactivation kinetics of the disinfectant. The inactivation rates of echovirus 11 by UV or heat were independent of the host cell, but the inactivation by free chlorine was faster when enumerated on BGMK cells compared to RD and A549 cells. This host cell-dependent inactivation kinetics were also observed for other enteroviruses.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Beiping Luo, Aline Schaub, Irina Glas, Liviana K. Klein, Shannon C. David, Nir Bluvshtein, Kalliopi Violaki, Ghislain Motos, Marie O. Pohl, Walter Hugentobler, Athanasios Nenes, Ulrich K. Krieger, Silke Stertz, Thomas Peter, Tamar Kohn
Summary: Respiratory viruses, such as influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2, can be transmitted by the airborne route. While air filtration and ventilation can reduce virus concentration, they fail to consider the impact of aerosol acidity on virus persistence. This study finds that exhaled particles in indoor air become mildly acidic, rapidly inactivating influenza virus but requiring days for SARS-CoV-2. Manipulating aerosol pH can significantly affect virus transmission and mitigation strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chaojie Li, Emile Sylvestre, Xavier Fernandez-Cassi, Timothy R. Julian, Tamar Kohn
Summary: This study proposes a model that combines water quality and quantitative microbial risk assessment to study the transport, fate, and infection risk of waterborne viruses in Lake Geneva. Results show that norovirus is the most abundant virus and poses a higher infection risk compared to other viruses studied.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Federica Cariti, Alex Tunas Corzon, Xavier Fernandez-Cassi, Pravin Ganesanandamoor, Christoph Ort, Timothy R. Julian, Tamar Kohn
Summary: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been proven effective in monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study conducted in Ticino, Switzerland, using WBE revealed the spatiotemporal evolution of the virus in the canton. This highlights the potential of WBE as a versatile tool for monitoring the introduction and spread of infectious agents.
Article
Remote Sensing
Chaojie Li, Daniel Odermatt, Damien Bouffard, Alfred Wueest, Tamar Kohn
Summary: The rapid development of equipment, technology and computational power has led to advancements in the monitoring and simulation of hydrodynamics in lakes. However, water quality simulations are more challenging. This study demonstrates the use of remote sensing data to inform Lagrangian particle tracking in a large lake, improving the analysis of solute transport. The integration of remote sensing techniques and particle tracking modeling allows for rapid, continuous and more accurate analysis of water quality in lakes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2022)
