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Dreyer S, Marcu D, Keyser S, Bennett M, Maree L, Koeppel K, Abernethy D, Petrik L. Factors in the decline of the African penguin: Are contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) a potential new age stressor? MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116688. [PMID: 39029148 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
The African penguin is currently experiencing a significant decline, with just over 10,000 breeding pairs left. A substantial body of research reflects the impacts of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the marine environment, with wastewater treatment plants reported as one of the main sources of CEC release. In South Africa, CECs were identified contaminating the marine environment and bioaccumulating in several marine species. Approximately 70 % of all African penguin colonies breed in close proximity to cities and/or harbors in South Africa. Currently, the impact of CECs as a stressor upon the viability of African penguin populations is unknown. Based on the search results there was a clear lack of information on CECs' bioaccumulation and impact on the African penguin. This narrative review will thus focus on the prevalent sources and types of CECs and examine the reported consequences of constant exposure in seabirds, particularly African penguins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Dreyer
- Animal Production Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
| | - Daniel Marcu
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Shannen Keyser
- Comparative Spermatology Laboratory, Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Monique Bennett
- Comparative Spermatology Laboratory, Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Liana Maree
- Comparative Spermatology Laboratory, Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Katja Koeppel
- Animal Production Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Darrell Abernethy
- Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion SY23 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Leslie Petrik
- Environmental and Nano Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
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2
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Akromah S, Chandarana N, Rowlandson JL, Eichhorn SJ. Potential environmental impact of mycelium composites on African communities. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11867. [PMID: 38789584 PMCID: PMC11126690 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62561-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The ecological and economic benefits of mycelium composites offer a promising opportunity for supporting sustainable development in Africa. This study focuses on assessing the environmental impact of mycelium composites for building and construction (MCBs) by conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) in the context of Africa. It is demonstrated that the potential environmental impact of MCBs is substantially influenced by the use and source of electrical power for autoclaves, incubators, and ovens, making the culturing and post-processing phases the major environmental hotspots. The impact of MCB production is also relative to the energy mix of specific countries, being higher in countries that rely on fossil fuel energy (e.g., South Africa) and lower in those that rely more on renewable sources (e.g., Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC). Furthermore, the impact of MCB production is found to be sensitive to travel distance, suggesting that situating production facilities closer to agricultural, agro-industrial, and/or forestry waste sources could be more beneficial than interregional sourcing, for example. It is also demonstrated that MCBs have the potential to be a more ecologically sustainable alternative to some conventional construction materials (e.g., concrete) over an entire life cycle. Based on the insights obtained from this LCA, some recommendations have been proposed to address potential environmental repercussions pre-emptively and proactively: this is particularly important for nations, mainly in the Global South, that exhibit low resilience to climate change due to limited economic resources. Furthermore, with the rapid expansion of mycelium composite technology, there is a need to increase awareness about its potential environmental impact and, ultimately, to mitigate its potential contribution to pressing environmental concerns (e.g., global warming and climate change). Consequently, this study also adds to the existing body of literature on LCA studies, delineating key factors for consideration in future LCA studies and providing guidance for the sustainable establishment and expansion of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Akromah
- Bristol Composites Institute, School of Civil, Aerospace, and Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK.
| | - Neha Chandarana
- Bristol Composites Institute, School of Civil, Aerospace, and Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK.
| | - Jemma L Rowlandson
- Bristol Composites Institute, School of Civil, Aerospace, and Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK.
| | - Stephen J Eichhorn
- Bristol Composites Institute, School of Civil, Aerospace, and Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK.
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3
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Abbasi F, De-la-Torre GE, KalantarHormozi MR, Schmidt TC, Dobaradaran S. A review of endocrine disrupting chemicals migration from food contact materials into beverages. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 355:141760. [PMID: 38537710 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
A significant and pressing issue revolves around the potential human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which pose a substantial risk primarily through contaminated beverages. However, a comprehensive review for comparison of the migration rates of EDCs into these matrixes is currently lacking. This study reviews the beverages contamination with EDCs, including phthalates (PAEs), bisphenol A (BPA), hormone-like compounds, elements, and other organic EDCs. Also, the EDCs migration into milk and other dairy products, coffee, tea, and cold beverages related to their release from contact materials, preparation components, and storage conditions are briefly summarized. The data illustrates that besides the contamination of raw materials, the presence of EDCs associated with the type of food contact materials (FCMs)and their migration rate is increased with acidity, temperature, and storage time. The highest concentration of PAEs was detected from plastic and synthetic polymer films, while BPA strongly leaches from epoxy resins and canned metal. Furthermore, the presence of elements with endocrine disrupting characteristics was confirmed in cold beverages, soft drinks, hot drink and milk. Moreover, hormone-like compounds have been found to be released from coffee preparation components. Despite the few data about the migration rate of other EDCs including UV-stabilizers, surfactants, and antibacterial compounds into beverages, their presence was reported into milk, coffee, and different beverages, especially in packed samples. Studies on the EDCs leaching have primarily focused on PAEs and BPA, while other compounds require further investigation. Regardless, the possible risk that EDCs pose to humans through beverage consumption cannot be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fariba Abbasi
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
| | | | | | - Torsten C Schmidt
- Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitatsstr. ¨ 5, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitatsstr. ¨ 5, Essen, 45141, Germany
| | - Sina Dobaradaran
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran; Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitatsstr. ¨ 5, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitatsstr. ¨ 5, Essen, 45141, Germany; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
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4
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Almansa X, Starostka R, Raskin L, Zeeman G, De Los Reyes F, Waechter J, Yeh D, Radu T. Anaerobic Digestion as a Core Technology in Addressing the Global Sanitation Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19078-19087. [PMID: 37956995 PMCID: PMC10702437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Successfully addressing the complex global sanitation problem is a massive undertaking. Anaerobic digestion (AD), coupled with post-treatment, has been identified as a promising technology to contribute to meeting this goal. It offers multiple benefits to the end users, such as the potential inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms in waste and the recovery of resources, including renewable energy and nutrients. This feature article provides an overview of the most frequently applied AD systems for decentralized communities and low- and lower-middle-income countries with an emphasis on sanitation, including technologies for which pathogen inactivation was considered during the design. Challenges to AD use are then identified, such as experience, economics, knowledge/training of personnel and users, and stakeholder analysis. Finally, accelerators for AD implementation are noted, such as the inclusion of field studies in academic journals, analysis of emerging contaminants, the use of sanitation toolboxes and life cycle assessment in design, incorporation of artificial intelligence in monitoring, and expansion of undergraduate and graduate curricula focused on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renata Starostka
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Lutgarde Raskin
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Grietje Zeeman
- Wageningen
University & Research, Wageningen, 6708PB, The Netherlands
| | - Francis De Los Reyes
- Department
of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7908, United
States
| | | | - Daniel Yeh
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Tanja Radu
- School
of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United
Kingdom
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5
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Celik N, Sahin F, Ruzi M, Ceylan A, Butt HJ, Onses MS. Mechanochemical Activation of Silicone for Large-Scale Fabrication of Anti-Biofouling Liquid-like Surfaces. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:54060-54072. [PMID: 37953492 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c11352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale preparation of liquid-like coatings with perfect transparency via solventless and room-temperature processes using low-cost and biocompatible materials is of tremendous interest for a broad range of applications. Here, we present a mechanochemical activation strategy for solventless grafting of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) onto glass, silicon wafers, and ceramics. Activation is achieved via ball milling PDMS without using any solvents or additives prior to application. Ball milling results in chain scission and generation of free radicals, allowing room-temperature grafting at durations ≤1 h. The deposition of ball-milled PDMS can be facilitated by brushing or drop-casting, enabling large-scale applications. The resulting surfaces facilitate the sliding of droplets at angles <20° for liquids with surface tension ranging from 22 to 73 mN/m. An important application for public health is generating anti-biofouling coatings on sanitary ware. For example, PDMS-grafted surfaces prepared on a regular-size toilet bowl exhibit a 105-fold decrease in the attachment of bacteria from urine. These findings highlight the significant potential of mechanochemical processes for the practical preparation of liquid-like surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nusret Celik
- ERNAM─Erciyes University Nanotechnology Application and Research Center, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Furkan Sahin
- ERNAM─Erciyes University Nanotechnology Application and Research Center, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Beykent University, 34398 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mahmut Ruzi
- ERNAM─Erciyes University Nanotechnology Application and Research Center, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Ceylan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Hans-Jürgen Butt
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Mustafa Serdar Onses
- ERNAM─Erciyes University Nanotechnology Application and Research Center, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
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6
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Luo X, Li W, Liang Z, Liu Y, Fan DE. Portable Bulk-Water Disinfection by Live Capture of Bacteria with Divergently Branched Porous Graphite in Electric Fields. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37224419 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Easy access to clean water is essential to functioning and development of modern society. However, it remains arduous to develop energy-efficient, facile, and portable water treatment systems for point-of-use (POU) applications, which is particularly imperative for the safety and resilience of society during extreme weather and critical situations. Here, we propose and validate a meritorious working scheme for water disinfection via directly capturing and removing pathogen cells from bulk water using strategically designed three-dimensional (3D) porous dendritic graphite foams (PDGFs) in a high-frequency AC field. The prototype, integrated in a 3D-printed portable water-purification module, can reproducibly remove 99.997% E. coli bacteria in bulk water at a few voltages with among the lowest energy consumption at 435.5 J·L-1. The PDGFs, costing $1.47 per piece, can robustly operate at least 20 times for more than 8 h in total without functional degradation. Furthermore, we successfully unravel the involved disinfection mechanism with one-dimensional Brownian dynamics simulation. The system is practically applied that brings natural water in Waller Creek at UT Austin to the safe drinking level. This research, including the working mechanism based on dendritically porous graphite and the design scheme, could inspire a future device paradigm for POU water treatment.
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Wang J, Sgarzi M, Němečková Z, Henych J, Licciardello N, Cuniberti G. Reusable and Antibacterial Polymer-Based Nanocomposites for the Adsorption of Dyes and the Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Antibiotics. GLOBAL CHALLENGES (HOBOKEN, NJ) 2022; 6:2200076. [PMID: 36381130 PMCID: PMC9638429 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202200076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Adsorption and advanced oxidation processes, especially photocatalysis, are amongst the most common water treatment methodologies. Unfortunately, using each of these techniques independently does not fully eliminate the pollutants of diverse nature, which are present in wastewater. Here, an avenue for multifunctional materials for water treatment is opened by reporting for the first time the preparation, characterization, and study of the properties of a novel multifunctional nanocomposite with both adsorption and visible-light-driven photocatalysis abilities. These multifunctional nanocomposites, namely iron (II, III) oxide/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid)/silver-titanium dioxide (Fe3O4/P(NIPAM-co-MAA)/Ag-TiO2), are prepared by combining magnetic polymeric microspheres (Fe3O4/P(NIPAM-co-MAA)) with silver-decorated titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Ag-TiO2 NPs). Cationic dyes, such as basic fuchsin (BF), can be adsorbed by the nanocomposites thanks to the carboxylic groups of Fe3O4/P(NIPAM-co-MAA) microspheres. Concomitantly, the presence of Ag-TiO2 NPs endows the system with the visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation ability toward antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (CIP) and norfloxacin (NFX). Furthermore, the proposed nanocomposites show antibacterial activity toward Escherichia coli (E. coli), thanks to the presence of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Due to the superparamagnetic properties of iron (II, III) oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs), the nanocomposites can be also recycled and reused, after the cleaning process, by using an external magnetic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- Institute for Materials ScienceMax Bergmann Center of Biomaterials and Dresden Center for NanoanalysisTU Dresden01062DresdenGermany
| | - Massimo Sgarzi
- Institute for Materials ScienceMax Bergmann Center of Biomaterials and Dresden Center for NanoanalysisTU Dresden01062DresdenGermany
- Present address:
Department of Molecular Sciences and NanosystemsCa’ Foscari University of VeniceVia Torino 15530172Venezia MestreItaly
| | - Zuzana Němečková
- Institute of Inorganic ChemistryCzech Academy of SciencesHusinec‐Řež 1001Řež250 68Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Henych
- Institute of Inorganic ChemistryCzech Academy of SciencesHusinec‐Řež 1001Řež250 68Czech Republic
- Faculty of EnvironmentJan Evangelista Purkyně UniversityPasteurova 3632/15Ústí nad Labem400 96Czech Republic
| | - Nadia Licciardello
- Institute for Materials ScienceMax Bergmann Center of Biomaterials and Dresden Center for NanoanalysisTU Dresden01062DresdenGermany
- Present address:
Department of Drug and Health SciencesUniversity of CataniaViale Andrea Doria 695125CataniaItaly
| | - Gianaurelio Cuniberti
- Institute for Materials ScienceMax Bergmann Center of Biomaterials and Dresden Center for NanoanalysisTU Dresden01062DresdenGermany
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8
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Ho QN, Fettweis M, Spencer KL, Lee BJ. Flocculation with heterogeneous composition in water environments: A review. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 213:118147. [PMID: 35149367 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Flocculation is a key process for controlling the fate and transport of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in water environments and has received considerable attention in the field of water science (e.g., oceanography, limnology, and hydrology), remaining an active area of research. The research on flocculation has been conducted to elucidate the SPM dynamics and to diagnose various environmental issues. The flocculation, sedimentation, and transportation of SPM are closely linked to the compositional and structural properties of flocs. In fact, flocs are highly heterogeneous in terms of composition. However, the lack of comprehensive research on floc composition and structure has led to misconceptions regarding the temporal and spatial dynamics of SPM. This review summarizes the current understanding of the heterogeneous composition of flocs (e.g., minerals, organic matter, metals, microplastic, engineered nanoparticles) and its effect on their structure and on their fate and transport within aquatic environments. Furthermore, the effects of human activities (e.g., pollutant discharge, construction) on floc composition are discussed.
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Key Words
- AB, Alcian Blue
- CBB, Coomassie Brilliant Blue
- CSPs, Coomassie stainable particles
- DOM, Dissolved organic matter
- ENPs, Engineered nanoparticles
- EPS, Extracellular polymeric substances
- FA, Fulvic acids
- Flocculation
- HA, Humic acids
- HS, Humic substances
- Heterogeneous composition
- Hm, Humin
- LB-EPS, Loosely bound EPS
- MPs, Microplastics
- Microplastics
- OM, Organic matter
- OWFs, Offshore wind farms
- Organic matter
- POM, Particulate organic matter
- SPM, Suspended particulate matter
- Suspended particle matter
- TB-EPS, Tightly bound EPS
- TEP, Transparent exopolymer particles
- TOC, Total organic carbon
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Affiliation(s)
- Que Nguyen Ho
- Energy Environment Institute, Kyungpook National University, 2559 Gyeongsang-daero, Sangju, Gyeongbuk 37224, Korea
| | - Michael Fettweis
- Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Kate L Spencer
- School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Byung Joon Lee
- Energy Environment Institute, Kyungpook National University, 2559 Gyeongsang-daero, Sangju, Gyeongbuk 37224, Korea; Department of Advanced Science and Technology Convergence, Kyungpook National University, 2559 Gyeongsang-daero, Sangju, Gyeongbuk 37224, Korea.
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9
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Escobedo E, Cho K, Chang YS. Electrochemical activation of hydrogen peroxide, persulfate, and free chlorine using sacrificial iron anodes for decentralized wastewater treatment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127068. [PMID: 34523470 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Increasing contamination of groundwater by heavy metals could potentially hamper the basic sanitation based on septic system in developing countries. Therefore, this paper evaluated wastewater treatment by electrochemical activation of hydrogen peroxide (EAHP), persulfate (EAP), and free chlorine (EAFC) to simultaneously eliminate aqueous organic matter and heavy metals. Sacrificial iron anodes under galvanostatic regime activated the batch-injected oxidants under uncontrolled pH, to avoid extra cost of control in decentralized processes (e.g., household use) to treat domestic wastewater. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimized conditions for EAP ([persulfate]0 = 25 mM, 24.4 mA/cm2), EAFC ([free chlorine]0 = 35.5 mM, 44.4 mA/cm2), and EAHP ([H2O2]0 = 91.1 mM, 45 mA/cm2) towards total organic carbon (TOC) removal. Treatment of real wastewater under optimum conditions significantly reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD) and TOC in all treatments, complying with lenient effluent standards as well as the added benefit of complete As(V) and Cr(VI) removal. Although EAP and EAFC provided superior removal of TOC (70-75%) and COD (73-100%) within 3 h, respectively, effluent toxicity and operation cost (76-85 USD/m3) were relatively high. EAHP was the best available option to secure non-toxic effluent with the least cost (63 USD/m3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ericson Escobedo
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Kangwoo Cho
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea; Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University International Campus, 21983 Incheon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yoon-Seok Chang
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Behruznia M, O'Brien CL, Gordon DM. Prevalence, diversity and genetic structure of Escherichia coli isolates from septic tanks. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:138-146. [PMID: 34918455 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated the diversity and genetic structure of Escherichia coli isolates from 100 septic tanks in the Canberra region, Australia. The physicochemical characteristics of the septic tanks were determined to examine the extent to which environmental factors might influence E. coli prevalence, diversity and population structure. The results of this study indicated that the temperature of the septic tank could explain some of the variation observed in the number of E. coli isolates recovered per septic tank, whereas pH was an important driver of E. coli diversity. Conductivity, pH and household size had a significant impact on E. coli population structure, and household size significantly affected the probability of detecting human-associated E. coli lineages [sequence types (STs) 69, 73, 95 and 131] in septic tanks. Phylogroup A and B1 strains were not randomly distributed among septic tanks, and the strong negative association between them may indicate intraspecific competition. The findings of this study suggest that the combination of environmental factors and intraspecific interactions may influence the distribution and genetic structure of E. coli in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahboobeh Behruznia
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Claire L O'Brien
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - David M Gordon
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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11
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Stanojevic M, Trailovic M, Dubljanin T, Krivošej Z, Nikolic M, Nikolic N. Sewage Pollution Promotes the Invasion-Related Traits of Impatiens glandulifera in an Oligotrophic Habitat of the Sharr Mountain (Western Balkans). PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10122814. [PMID: 34961285 PMCID: PMC8708665 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
An annual plant, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera Royle) is globally widespread and one of Europe’s top invaders. We focused on two questions: does this species indeed not invade the southern areas and does the environment affect some of its key invisibility traits. In an isolated model mountainous valley, we jointly analyzed the soil (21 parameters), the life history traits of the invader (height, stem diameter, aboveground dw), and the resident vegetation (species composition and abundances, Ellenberg indicator values), and supplemented it with local knowledge (semi-structured interviews). Uncontrolled discharge of fecal wastewaters directly into the local dense hydrological network fostered mass infestation of an atypical habitat. The phenotypic plasticity of the measured invasion-related traits was very high in the surveyed early invasion (30–50% invader cover) stages. Different microhabitat conditions consistently correlated with its growth performance. The largest individuals were restricted to the deforested riparian habitats, with extreme soil nutrient enrichment (primarily by P and K) and low-competitive, species-poor resident vegetation. We showed that ecological context can modify invasion-related traits and what could affect a further invasion process. Finally, this species is likely underreported in the wider region; public attitude and loss of traditional ecological knowledge are further management risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milos Stanojevic
- Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica, Lole Ribara 29, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia; (M.S.); (Z.K.)
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Viseslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.T.); (T.D.); (M.N.)
| | - Maja Trailovic
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Viseslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.T.); (T.D.); (M.N.)
| | - Tijana Dubljanin
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Viseslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.T.); (T.D.); (M.N.)
| | - Zoran Krivošej
- Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica, Lole Ribara 29, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia; (M.S.); (Z.K.)
| | - Miroslav Nikolic
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Viseslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.T.); (T.D.); (M.N.)
| | - Nina Nikolic
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Viseslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.T.); (T.D.); (M.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +381-60-312-0771
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