Article
Environmental Sciences
Charles M. Hamilton, Matthew J. Winter, Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci, Stewart F. Owen, Charles R. Tyler
Summary: Glucocorticosteroids, or glucocorticoids (GCs), play a central role in various physiological processes in vertebrates. Synthetic GCs, widely prescribed for therapeutic purposes, are detected extensively in aquatic environments. While most compounds pose insignificant risk to fish, some compounds are predicted to have moderate and high risk. The potential for mixture effects among GCs should also be considered, as they could have significant environmental impact. Further research is recommended to fully understand the environmental risk of these commonly prescribed drugs.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Katarzyna Bethke, Klaudia Kropidlowska, Piotr Stepnowski, Magda Caban
Summary: An increase in temperature and acidification of water due to global warming have negative effects on aquatic organisms. Climate change also indirectly affects the toxicity of pollutants. However, there is limited knowledge on the effects of temperature, pH, and combined stressors on the toxicity of pharmaceuticals. This paper provides a summary of existing research and highlights the need for further investigation in the ecotoxicology of pharmaceuticals under climate change conditions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Gallego, David Nos, Nicola Montemurro, Juan C. Sanchez-Hernandez, Sandra Perez, Montserrat Sole, Fabrice Martin-Laurent
Summary: The use of reclaimed water in agriculture is a promising alternative to alleviate pressure on freshwater supplies, but may introduce micropollutants into the environment. Studies have shown that an antihypertensive drug has both dissipation and accumulation effects in soil-earthworm microcosms.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John L. Wilkinson, Ian Thornhill, Rik Oldenkamp, Anthony Gachanja, Rosa Busquets
Summary: Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are essential for a healthy society but also act as environmental contaminants with potential biological disruption. This study discusses research priorities for the next decade, focusing on identifying regions where PPCPs pose the highest risks to environmental and human health. Four criteria are proposed to prioritize monitoring efforts, resulting in the identification of 19 cities as priority areas for future environmental monitoring and risk characterization.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marcelo Pedrosa Gomes, Mariana Perez dos Santos, Patricia Lawane de Freitas, Ana Marta Schafaschek, Emily Nentwing de Barros, Rafael Shinji Akiyama Kitamura, Volnei Paulete, Mario Antonio Navarro-Silva
Summary: In this study, the individual and combined effects of glyphosate and AMPA on the physiology of mosquito larvae were evaluated. The presence of the aquatic macrophyte, Salvinia molesta, was found to mitigate the toxicological impacts of the compounds by removing them from the water.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Chrisna Matthee, Andrew Ross Brown, Anke Lange, Charles R. Tyler
Summary: The increasing levels and frequencies of pharmaceutical ingredients in the environment are concerning, especially for fish. This review explores the physiological factors in fish that impact drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity, highlighting the need to understand the potential risks of pharmaceuticals for fish and minimize animal testing. The discussion provides insight into the limitations of existing data from mammalian and clinical studies for assessing environmental risks of pharmaceuticals in fish.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter P. Fong, Aylin Doganoglu, Eleanor V. Sandt, Sierra D. Turbeville
Summary: Climate change may exacerbate the effects of environmental pollutants on aquatic organisms. Antidepressants play a significant role in the development of tadpoles, but temperature overrides this effect.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Flavio Kiyoshi Tominaga, Nathalia Fonseca Boiani, Thalita Tieko Silva, Vanessa Silva Granadeiro Garcia, Sueli Ivone Borrely
Summary: This study assessed the acute and chronic toxicity of different pharmaceuticals in water and predicted the toxicity of pharmaceutical mixtures. The results showed both antagonistic and synergistic effects among different pharmaceuticals. Additionally, a hormetic effect was observed at low concentrations of pharmaceutical mixtures.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dominik Reiner, Matthias C. Spangenberg, Volker Grimm, Jurgen Groeneveld, Kerstin Wiegand
Summary: Honeybees are important pollinators for plants and crops, but they are threatened by various stressors such as varroa mites, gaps in foraging supply, and pesticides. The long-term effects of multiple stressors on honeybee colonies are not well understood, highlighting the need for more research in this area.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Karen. A. A. Kidd, Thomas Backhaus, Tomas Brodin, Pedro. A. A. Inostroza, Erin. S. S. McCallum
Summary: Significant progress has been made in assessing the aquatic ecotoxicity of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) mixtures. Studies have shown that mixtures often result in responses that meet the concentration addition model. However, there is a need for longer-term and multispecies assessments, as well as more research on the environmental levels of PPCP mixtures. The use of new approach methodologies, such as omics, is recommended to advance our understanding of mixture effects.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
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)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raizza Zorman Marques, Leticia Yoshie Kochi, Maria Guzman-Tordecilla, Laura Malage, Philippe Juneau, Marcelo Pedrosa Gomes
Summary: Water contamination by pharmaceuticals, specifically azithromycin, ivermectin, and hydroxychloroquine used for COVID-19 treatment, poses environmental risks to cyanobacteria and microalgae. These drugs have individual and combined effects on growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant activity of the tested species. Further investigation is needed to understand their ecotoxicological effects on aquatic ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Angela Barreto, Joana Santos, Monica J. B. Amorim, Vera L. Maria
Summary: Nanoplastics may interact with other contaminants and modulate their toxicity. The study found that polystyrene NPls interacting with simvastatin had significant effects on zebrafish embryos, including delayed hatching, decreased heartbeat, edema, and mortality.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
A. I. Catarino, D. Patsiou, S. Summers, G. Everaert, T. B. Henry, T. Gutierrez
Summary: The study highlights the methodological challenges in assessing the effects of nanoplastics on aquatic organisms and provides recommendations for optimizing experimental approaches. It emphasizes the need for rigorous quality criteria framework and suitable data for risk assessment.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marjori Brenda Leite Marques, Isabella Alves Brunetti, Camila Aparecida Faleiros, Claudinei da Cruz, Hafiz M. N. Iqbal, Muhammad Bilal, Juliana Heloisa Pine Americo-Pinheiro
Summary: This study evaluated the ecotoxicity of chlorpyrifos on neotropical aquatic organisms and determined the sensitivity order of different species. The research indicates that the environmental poisoning risk of chlorpyrifos may vary depending on the aquatic trophic level.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana R. F. Carreira, Telma Veloso, Ines P. E. Macario, Joana L. Pereira, Sonia P. M. Ventura, Helena Passos, Joao A. P. Coutinho
Summary: This study evaluated the metal sorption capacity of six macroalgae, two microalgae, and three cyanobacteria for Co2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+. Brown macroalgae, particularly Undaria pinnatifida, showed the highest metal sorption capacity. Overall, macroalgae performed better than microalgae, followed by cyanobacteria. Carboxyl groups were identified as the main functional groups involved in metal sorption, and all biomass samples were selective to Cu2+. The release of K+ and Ca2+ during the metal sorption process indicated an ion-exchange mechanism, except for red macroalgae.
Article
Ecology
Libania Queiros, Nuno Aguiar, Patricia Pereira, Fernando J. M. Goncalves, Artur Alves, Joana Luisa Pereira
Summary: This study investigates the possibility of readjusting the formulation of a commercial fungicide to make it more environmentally safe and effective against target organisms. The results suggest that the current mixture and rates of the fungicides are generally environmentally safe but ineffective against the target fungi. It also highlights the importance of systematic ecotoxicological testing for optimizing commercial products and reducing environmental contamination.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Joana Isabel Santos, Carlos Silva, Fernando J. M. Goncalves, Joana Luisa Pereira, Bruno Branco Castro
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the macroinvertebrate community structure and its bioindicator value in streams from different regions in Portugal. The results showed clear differences in environmental context and ecological similarity between the wettest and driest regions, while the intermediate region had high variability. Climate and water scarcity were found to be coupled with other environmental drivers in shaping macroinvertebrate communities.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ines P. E. Macario, Telma Veloso, Andreia P. M. Fernandes, Margarida Martins, Silja Frankenbach, Joao Serodio, Fernando J. M. Goncalves, Sonia P. M. Ventura, Joana L. Pereira
Summary: This study evaluated the growth patterns and pigment production of three cyanobacterium species, and found that N. muscorum was the best producer of chlorophyll a and C-phycocyanin.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cristiano Soares, Beatriz Fernandes, Cristiana Paiva, Veronica Nogueira, Anabela Cachada, Fernanda Fidalgo, Ruth Pereira
Summary: Glyphosate (GLY) and flazasulfuron (FLA) have different effects on soil habitat and non-target organisms. FLA has more toxic effects on earthworms and plants, while GLY mainly affects plant growth and has no effect on collembola.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Cristiano Soares, Pedro Mateus, Fernanda Fidalgo, Ruth Pereira
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the role of soil organic matter (OM) in preventing glyphosate (GLY) phytotoxicity on tomato plants. The results suggest that soils with higher OM content (10% and 15%) can mitigate the non-target phytotoxicity of GLY, possibly by decreasing herbicide bioavailability and/or stimulating defense mechanisms, thereby improving crop growth and physiological performance.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Thacilla Menezes, Sirine Bouguerra, Tatiana Andreani, Ruth Pereira, Carlos Pereira
Summary: The main goal of this study was to design and evaluate the success of loading 3-methyl-5-phenyl-pyrazoline-1-(S-benzyldithiocarbazate) (DTC) into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSiNPs) by measuring its physicochemical properties and assessing the environmental safety of the new formulation using different aquatic organisms. The results showed that DTC, MSiNP, and MSiNP-DTC had low toxicity against aquatic organisms, but loading DTC slightly increased toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the impact of MSiNPs on the safety of the new formulation.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ana Filipa Oliveira, Sonia Cotrim Marques, Joana Luisa Pereira, Ulisses Miranda Azeiteiro
Summary: Mysids play a crucial role in marine food chains by connecting the benthic and pelagic realms. This article provides a comprehensive overview of their taxonomy, distribution, production, and potential as a model organism in environmental research. It highlights the significance of mysids in estuarine communities, trophic webs, and their response to emergent challenges like climate change. The review emphasizes the need for further research to enhance our understanding of mysids' ecological importance, despite a lack of genomic studies.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andreia F. Mesquita, Fatima Jesus, Fernando J. M. Goncalves, Ana M. M. Goncalves
Summary: Under the current scenario of global warming, this study aims to understand the effect of increased temperature on the combined toxicity of pesticides to aquatic species. The results showed that increased temperature increased the tolerance of diatoms to pesticides and also altered the biochemical responses of the diatoms. These findings have implications for the nutritional value of food webs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Albano Pinto, Maria Joao Botelho, Catarina Churro, Jana Asselman, Patricia Pereira, Joana Luisa Pereira
Summary: Aquatic toxins, produced by certain cyanobacteria and marine algae species during harmful bloom events, are a significant concern for human and environmental health worldwide. While the direct impacts on human health receive the most attention, the effects on the wider ecosystem are often overlooked. This review aims to consolidate knowledge about the adverse effects of aquatic toxins, with a focus on their impacts on ecologically relevant model organisms.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
B. S. Bandarra, H. Passos, T. Vidal, R. C. Martins, M. J. Quina, J. L. Pereira, J. Rombke
Summary: This work aims at improving the efficiency of a biotest battery for the assessment of waste ecotoxicity. The results show the importance of testing different species and suggest shortening the test duration for daphnids and earthworms. The use of miniaturized tests and alternative testing kits to overcome methodological difficulties is also recommended. Testing waste with natural pH and using the Extended Limit Test design with the LID-approach is found to be useful for waste testing.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
B. S. Bandarra, C. Mesquita, H. Passos, R. C. Martins, P. A. L. F. Coelho, J. L. Pereira, M. J. Quina
Summary: This study evaluated the mechanical behavior and environmental hazardous potential of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (IBA), including ecotoxicity assessment, to explore its potential for safe utilization.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Construction & Building Technology
C. S. C. Calheiros, R. Pereira, S. L. G. Skar, S. I. A. Pereira
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andreia F. Mesquita, Fernando J. M. Goncalves, Ana M. M. Goncalves
Summary: Currently, there is a growing concern over chemical pollution and climate change worldwide. This study focuses on evaluating the effects of copper and oxyfluorfen on bivalve species, Cerastoderma edule, considering their tolerance and the changes in antioxidant defense enzymes under different temperatures. The results show that C. edule has higher tolerance to oxyfluorfen compared to copper. The antioxidant defense system effectively fights against the chemicals, but there may be neurotoxic effects at certain temperatures. Higher temperatures can lead to lipid peroxidation and increased mortality.