Cosmetics as a potential source of environmental contamination in the UK

Sustainable Treatment Techniques for Emerging Pollutants—The Case of Personal Hygiene Products

Personal care products (PCPs) enter wastewater primarily through greywater. Treatment plants have not been able to remove this type of contaminant, although PCP abatement techniques have been developed in recent years. The objective of the current study has been to encounter the sustainable technique that keeps the optimal balance between the criteria considered in the comparison. Therefore, a bibliographic review was conducted in scientific databases of the last eight years, demonstrating that co-composting, anaerobic–aerobic sequencing bioreactors and contaminant absorption through the use of carbon nanotubes are the ones with the least environmental impact. Subsequently, the Saaty and Modified Saaty methods were applied, with a comparative criteria of construction costs, maintenance costs, efficiency and the stage of development. The results indicated that the co-composting technique is the best sustainable technique of those studied, with a score of 0.86/1, which means that the criteria analyzed maintain very close values between them. The co-composting technique yields a low environmental impact in eliminating personal care products. This research work constitutes a practical and easy-to-use tool for decision makers, since it allows finding an optimal elimination treatment for PCPs.

Emerging contaminants of high concern for the environment: Current trends and future research

Wastewater is contaminated water that must be treated before it may be transferred into other rivers and lakes in order to prevent further groundwater pollution. Over the last decade, research has been conducted on a wide variety of contaminants, but the emerging contaminants are those caused primarily by micropollutants, endocrine disruptors (EDs), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and toxins, as well as industrially-related synthetic dyes and dye-containing hazardous pollutants. Most emerging pollutants did not have established guidelines, but even at low concentrations they could have harmful effects on humans and aquatic organisms. In order to combat the above ecological threats, huge efforts have been done with a view to boosting the effectiveness of remediation procedures or developing new techniques for the detection, quantification and efficiency of the samples. The increase of interest in biotechnology and environmental engineering gives an opportunity for the development of more innovative ways to water treatment remediation. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of emerging sources of contaminants, detection technologies, and treatment strategies. The goal of this review is to evaluate adsorption as a method for treating emerging pollutants, as well as sophisticated and cost-effective approaches for treating emerging contaminants.

The Antimicrobial Properties of Modified Pharmaceutical Bentonite with Zinc and Copper

Pharmaceutical grade bentonite, containing a high amount of montmorillonite, enriched with zinc (Zn) or copper (Cu) (ZnBent and CuBent, respectively) was used as the main component for the creation of formulations for cutaneous use and tested for their antimicrobial capacity. Bentonite (Bent) with added phenoxyethanol (PH) as a preservative and unmodified bentonite were used as control groups. The mineralogical composition, structural state, and physical or chemical properties, before and after the modification of the samples, were characterized utilizing X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) techniques, and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM, SEM-EDS) analyses. In addition, the profile of zinc and copper concentration from two types of surfaces ZnBent and CuBent, and into Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) are discussed. Finally, the formulations in the form of basic pastes were challenged against bacteria, molds, and yeasts, and their performance was evaluated based on the European Pharmacopeia criteria. The Cu-modified bentonite performed excellently against bacteria and yeasts, while the Zn-modified bentonite only showed great results against yeasts. Therefore, Cu-modified bentonite formulations could offer antimicrobial protection without the use of preservatives.

A review on effective removal of emerging contaminants from aquatic systems: Current trends and scope for further research

Wastewater is water that has already been contaminated by domestic, industrial and commercial activity that needs to be treated before it could be discharged into some other water bodies to avoid even more groundwater contamination supplies. It consists of various contaminants like heavy metals, organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants and Emerging contaminants. Research has been doing on all types of contaminates more than a decade, but this emerging contaminants is the contaminants which arises mostly from pharmaceuticals, personal care products, hormones and fertilizer industries. The majority of emerging contaminants did not have standardized guidelines, but may have adverse effects on human and marine organisms, even at smaller concentrations. Typically, extremely low doses of emerging contaminants are found in the marine environment and cause a potential risk to the aquatic animals living there. When contaminants emerge in the marine world, they are potentially toxic and pose many risks to the health of both man and livestock. The aim of this article is to review the Emerging contaminate sources, detection methods and treatment methods. The purpose of this study is to consider the adsorption as a beneficial treatment of emerging contaminants also advanced and cost effective emerging contaminates treatment methods.

Degradation of organic pollutants by intimately coupling photocatalytic materials with microbes: a review

With the rapid development of industry and agriculture, large amounts of organic pollutants have been released into the environment. Consequently, the degradation of refractory organic pollutants has become one of the toughest challenges in remediation. To solve this problem, intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) technology, which allows the simultaneous action of photocatalysis and biodegradation and thus integrates the advantages of photocatalytic reactions and biological treatments, was developed recently. ICPB consists mainly of porous carriers, photocatalysts, biofilms, and an illuminated reactor. Under illumination, photocatalysts on the surface of the carriers convert refractory pollutants into biodegradable products through photocatalytic reactions, after which these products are completely degraded by the biofilms cultivated in the carriers. Additionally, the biofilms are protected by the carriers from the harmful light and free radicals generated by the photocatalyst. Compared with traditional technologies, ICPB remarkably improves the degradation efficiency and reduces the cost of bioremediation. In this review, we introduce the origin and mechanisms of ICPB, discuss the development of reactors, carriers, photocatalysts, and biofilms used in ICPB, and summarize the applications of ICPB to treat organic pollutants. Finally, gaps in this research as well as future perspectives are discussed.

Butylated hydroxyanisole induces testicular dysfunction in mouse testis cells by dysregulating calcium homeostasis and stimulating endoplasmic reticulum stress

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a synthetic phenolic antioxidant (SPA), has been used as a food additive. However, BHA acts as an environmental hormone, i.e., endocrine disruptor. Here, we investigated BHA-induced male reproductive dysfunction in mouse Leydig and Sertoli cells. We found that BHA suppressed proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in TM3 and TM4 cells. Furthermore, we investigated mitochondrial permeabilization, expression profiles of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins, calcium influx, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in testicular cells after BHA treatment. The results indicated that BHA-mediated calcium dysregulation and ER stress downregulated steroidogenesis- and spermatogenesis-related genes in mouse testis cell lines. Additionally, proliferation of both TM3 and TM4 cells in response to BHA treatment was regulated via the Mapk and Akt signaling pathways. Therefore, constant BHA exposure may lead to testicular toxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, and abnormal calcium levels in the testis.

Butylated hydroxytoluene induces dysregulation of calcium homeostasis and endoplasmic reticulum stress resulting in mouse Leydig cell death

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a synthetic phenolic antioxidant that has been used as an additive for fat- or oil-containing foods. The exposure index value increases with extended usage of the chemical. Further, estimated total amount of BHT could exceed standard regulation, considering dietary intake or another exposure. Although BHT may induce side effects in reproductive systems, adequate research had not yet been performed to confirm them. In this study, we investigated the effects of BHT on mouse Leydig cells (TM3), which are components of testis. Our results indicated that BHT suppressed cellular proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in TM3 cells. Moreover, BHT hampered cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium homeostasis in TM3 cells. Furthermore, BHT treatment led to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and DNA fragmentation, simultaneously stimulating intrinsic apoptosis signal transduction. To elucidate the mode of action of BHT on Leydig cells, we performed western blot analysis and confirmed the activation of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways. Collectively, our results demonstrated that BHT has toxic effects on mouse Leydig cells via induction of calcium dysregulation and ER-mitochondria dysfunction.

Heavy metals in municipal waste: the content and leaching ability by waste fraction

Today, heavy metals remain crucial pollutants in municipal waste due to their danger and leaching behavior. The purpose of this study is to analyze the sources of heavy metals in mixed municipal waste, including from recently introduced products, and to identify their composition and leaching properties in various fractions. The author has measured the concentration of four heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel, and chromium) in various fractions sampled from an operational municipal waste facility in the town of Pirna (Saxony, Germany). Batteries and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) were found to be the main sources of heavy metals in municipal waste, while a relatively high metals' content was also detected in the rubber fraction. To assess leaching behavior, landfill simulation reactors were used to simulate conditions over several decades. The metals' weight in the input and output waste was compared. The lowest leaching rate was found for lead, while the highest was found for cadmium and chromium. In addition, it was confirmed that the degree of leaching depended on the humidity and organic matter in the landfill: the higher the moisture and organic matter, the more heavy metals are leached from the waste.

Sunscreen bans: Coral reefs and skin cancer

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Hawaii will ban two major ingredients of sunscreens. This article reviews the reasons and future directions. Hawaii recently enacted legislation that will ban the use of two major ingredients of the majority of commonly used sunscreens. The reason for the ban is the ingredients' putative deleterious impact on marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs. But sunscreens also save lives by decreasing the risk of UV-induced skin cancers. We review both sides of the issue and potential implications for the healthcare system.

COMMENT

Coral reefs consist of organisms in delicate equilibria that are susceptible to small changes in their surroundings. Recent natural and man-made disruptions, direct or indirect, such as changes in ocean temperature and chemistry, ingress of invasive species, pathogens, pollution and deleterious fishing practices, have been blamed for the poor health, or even the outright destruction, of some coral reefs. The most popular sunscreen products contain two ingredients-oxybenzone and octinoxate-that have also been implicated in coral toxicity and will be banned. This creates a healthcare dilemma: Will the protection of coral reefs result in an increase in human skin cancers?

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Concentration estimates and mechanism studies support an association-direct or indirect (via promotion of viral infection)-of sunscreens with bleaching of coral reefs. A ban on the two most common sunscreen ingredients goes into effect in Hawaii on January 1, 2021. Proponents suggest that this is a trend, just the first of many such bans worldwide; opponents warn of a dire increase in human skin cancers. As a result, alternative sunscreen compounds are being sought.

Plasma lead, silicon and titanium concentrations are considerably higher in green sea turtle from the suburban coast than in those from the rural coast in Okinawa, Japan

The purpose of this study was to compare the concentration of trace elements in the plasma of sea turtles that inhabited the suburban (Okinawa Main Island, n=8) and the rural coast (Yaeyama Island, n=57) in Okinawa, Japan. Particle induced X-ray emission allowed detection of 20 trace and major elements. The wild sea turtles in the suburban coast in Okinawa were found to have high concentrations of Pb, Si and Ti in the plasma when compared to the rural area but there were no significant changes in the Al, As and Hg concentrations. These results may help to suggest the status of some elements in a marine environment. Further, monitoring the plasma trace and major element status in sea turtles can be used as a bio-monitoring approach by which specific types of elements found here could indicate effects that are related to human activities.

Diethyl phthalate removal from aqueous phase using poly(EGDMA-MATrp) beads: kinetic, isothermal and thermodynamic studies

In this study, poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-N-methacryloyl-L-tryptophan methyl ester) [poly(EGDMA-MATrp)] beads (average diameter=106-300 µm), which were synthesized by co-polymerizing of N-methacryloyl-L-tryptophan methyl ester (MATrp) with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), were used for diethyl phthalate (DEP) adsorption. The various factors affecting the adsorption of DEP from aqueous solutions such as pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature were analysed. Adsorption behaviour of DEP on the poly(EGDMA-MATrp) beads was investigated by varying pH values of solution, contact time, initial concentration and temperature. An optimum adsorption capacity of 590.7 mg/g for DEP was obtained at 25 °C. The present adsorption process obeyed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. All the isotherm data can be fitted with the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters ΔH=7.745 kJ/mol, ΔS=81.92 J/K/mol and ΔG=-16.69 kJ/mol to -18.31 kJ/mol with the rise in temperature from 25 °C to 45 °C indicated that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous.

Catalysed ozonation for removal of an endocrine-disrupting compound using the O3/Fenton reagents system

Aqueous solutions of diethyl phthalate (DEP) were oxidized by using ozone combined with Fenton reagents. The effects of operating parameters such as initial pH; initial concentration of DEP, H2O2 and Fe2+; [H2O2]0/[Fe2+]0 ratio and O3 dosage on the degradation rates of DEP were investigated. The results showed that DEP degradation is strongly dependant on the pH; initial concentrations of the phthalate, H2O2 and Fe2+; [H2O2]0/[Fe2+]0 ratio and O3 dosage. The addition of H2O2 and Fe2+ ions was effective to achieve almost 98% degradation of 200 mg L(-1) of DEP in about 40 min using a dose of O3=45 g m(-3) NTP; [H2O2]0=2.5×10(-2) mol L(-1) and [Fe(II)]0=5×10(-3) mol L(-1), as compared to over 60 min by using O3 and Fenton processes applied separately. DEP degradation followed apparent pseudo-first-order kinetics under ozonation, Fenton's reagents oxidation and the combined ozonation/Fenton reagents oxidation process. The overall reaction rates were significantly enhanced in the O3/Fe2+/H2O2 oxidation system, and allows achieving 100% degradation of DEP (100 mg L(-1)) in 30 min of reaction time. The notable decrease in DEP removal rate observed in the presence of a radical scavenger indicates that there was an obvious synergetic effect in the combined ozonation/Fenton reagent process most likely because ozonation could accelerate Fenton reagents to generate hydroxyl radical HO•. Thus, the reaction between DEP and HO• proceeds mainly in the bulk of the aqueous phase. Under optimal conditions, the O3/Fe2+/H2O2 system oxidation was the most effective in DEP removal in water.

Cutaneous exposure to agglomerates of silica nanoparticles and allergen results in IgE-biased immune response and increased sensitivity to anaphylaxis in mice

Background

The skin is a key route of human exposure to nanomaterials, which typically occurs simultaneously with exposure to other chemical and environmental allergen. However, little is known about the hazards of nanomaterial exposure via the skin, particularly when accompanied by exposure to other substances.

Results

Repeated topical treatment of both ears and the shaved upper back of NC/Nga mice, which are models for human atopic dermatitis (AD), with a mixture of mite extract and silica nanoparticles induced AD-like skin lesions. Measurements of ear thickness and histologic analyses revealed that cutaneous exposure to silica nanoparticles did not aggravate AD-like skin lesions. Instead, concurrent cutaneous exposure to mite allergens and silica nanoparticles resulted in the low-level production of allergen-specific IgGs, including both the Th2-related IgG1 and Th1-related IgG2a subtypes, with few changes in allergen-specific IgE concentrations and in Th1 and Th2 immune responses. In addition, these changes in immune responses increased the sensitivity to anaphylaxis. Low-level IgG production was induced when the mice were exposed to allergen–silica nanoparticle agglomerates but not when the mice exposed to nanoparticles applied separately from the allergen or to well-dispersed nanoparticles.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that silica nanoparticles themselves do not directly affect the allergen-specific immune response after concurrent topical application of nanoparticles and allergen. However, when present in allergen-adsorbed agglomerates, silica nanoparticles led to a low IgG/IgE ratio, a key risk factor of human atopic allergies. We suggest that minimizing interactions between nanomaterials and allergens will increase the safety of nanomaterials applied to skin.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12989-015-0095-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Degradation in chlorinated water of the UV filter 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane present in commercial sunscreens

4-tert-Butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDM) is a widely used ultraviolet A filter. In this work, we have studied the effect of chlorine and dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations on the stability of UV filter (BMDM) present in two commercial sunscreen cream formulations in water. An experimental design was used to assess the effect of the two experimental factors on the degradation of BMDM. Higher concentrations of chlorine lead to higher degradation percentages of BMDM and higher concentrations of DOM inhibit its degradation. Moreover, a mono and a dichloro derivate of BMDM were identified as by-products.

Ozonation of bezafibrate over ceria and ceria supported on carbon materials

Two catalysts containing ceria dispersed on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and activated carbon were investigated as ozonation catalysts for the mineralization of bezafibrate (BZF). The results were compared with those obtained in the absence of the catalyst and in the presence of the parent carbon materials, as well as in the presence of ceria (CeO2). Carbon materials containing ceria showed an interesting catalytic effect. Both materials enhanced the mineralization of BZF relatively to single ozonation and ozonation catalysed by the corresponding carbon materials. In the catalytic ozonation with these materials, both surface and bulk reactions are supposed to occur. The BZF ozonation catalysed by CeO2 leaded to the highest mineralization degrees, indicating that the reaction mechanism followed in the presence of CeO2 (free radical oxidation in solution) leads to the formation of intermediates more easily degradable, mainly after 120 min of reaction. Some primary products and refractory final oxidation compounds in single and catalytic ozonation of BZF were followed. The original chlorine present on the BZF molecule is completely converted to chloride anion and part of the nitrogen is mainly converted to NO3- along with smaller amounts of NO2- and NH4+. Microtox tests revealed that simultaneous use of ozone and CeO2 originated lower acute toxicity.

Cosmetic wastewater treatment by coagulation and advanced oxidation processes

In this study, the treatment process of three cosmetic wastewater types has been investigated. Coagulation allowed to achieve chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 74.6%, 37.7% and 74.0% for samples A (Al2(SO4)3), B (Brentafloc F3) and C (PAX 16), respectively. The Fenton process proved to be effective as well - COD removal was equal to 75.1%, 44.7% and 68.1%, respectively. Coagulation with FeCl3 and the subsequent photo-Fenton process resulted in the best values of final COD removal equal to 92.4%, 62.8% and 90.2%. In case of the Fenton process, after coagulation these values were equal to 74.9%, 50.1% and 84.8%, while in case of the H2O2/UV process, the obtained COD removal was 83.8%, 36.2% and 80.9%. High value of COD removal in the Fenton process carried out for A and C wastewater samples was caused by a significant contribution of the final neutralization/coagulation. Very small effect of the oxidation reaction in the Fenton process in case of sample A resulting from the presence of antioxidants, 'OH radical scavengers' in the wastewater.

Cosmetic wastewater treatment using the Fenton, Photo-Fenton and H2O2/UV processes

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), such as the Fenton, photo-Fenton and H2O2/UV processes, have been investigated for the treatment of cosmetic wastewaters that were previously coagulated by FeCl3. The Photo-Fenton process at pH 3.0 with 1000/100 mg L(-1) H2O2/Fe(2+) was the most effective (74.0% Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal). The Fenton process with 1200/500 mg L(-1) H2O2/Fe(2+) achieved a COD removal of 72.0%, and the H2O2/UV process achieved a COD removal of 47.0%. Spreading the H2O2 doses over time to obtain optimal conditions did not improve COD removal. The kinetics of the Fenton and photo-Fenton processes may be described by the following equation: d[COD]/dt = -a[COD] t(m) (t represents time and a and m are constants). The rate of COD removal by the H2O2/UV process may be described by a second-order reaction equation. Head Space, Solid-Phase MicroExtraction, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) were used to identify 48 substances in precoagulated wastewater. Among these substances, 26 were fragrances. Under optimal AOP conditions, over 99% of the identified substances were removed in 120 min.