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Dolkar P, Sharma M, Modeel S, Yadav S, Siwach S, Bharti M, Yadav P, Lata P, Negi T, Negi RK. Challenges and effective tracking down strategies of antibiotic contamination in aquatic ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-34806-5. [PMID: 39254807 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34806-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
A growing environmental concern revolves around the widespread use of medicines, particularly antibiotics, which adversely impact water quality and various life forms. The unregulated production and utilization of antibiotics not only affect non-targeted organisms but also exert significant evolutionary pressures, leading to the rapid development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial communities. To address this issue, global studies have been conducted to assess the prevalence and quantities of antibiotics in various environmental components including freshwater, ocean, local sewage, and fish. These studies aim to establish effective analytical methods for identifying and measuring antibiotic residues in environmental matrices that might enable authorities to establish norms for the containment and disposal of antibiotics. This article offers a comprehensive overview of methods used to extract antibiotics from environmental matrices exploring purification techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, green extraction techniques, and concentration methods like lyophilization and rotary evaporation. It further highlights qualitative and quantitative analysis methods, high-performance liquid chromatography, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography-tandem along with analytical methods such as UV-Vis and tandem mass spectrometry for detecting and measuring antibiotics. Urgency is underscored for proactive strategies to curb antibiotic contamination, safeguarding the integrity of aquatic ecosystems and public health on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padma Dolkar
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Monika Sharma
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
- Present Address: Gargi College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110049, India
| | - Sonakshi Modeel
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Sheetal Yadav
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Sneha Siwach
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Meghali Bharti
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Pankaj Yadav
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Pushp Lata
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Tarana Negi
- Government College, Dujana, Jhajjar, Haryana, 124102, India
| | - Ram Krishan Negi
- Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India.
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Boreham R, Ball JS, Hetheridge M, Owen S, Trznadel M, Tyler CR. Elevated temperature exacerbates pharmaceutical-induced oxidative stress in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 952:176001. [PMID: 39233069 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that rising global temperatures resulting from climate change may exacerbate the toxic effect of pollutants and heterotherms, including fish, in which homestatic mechanisms are directly influenced by environmental temperature will be most affected. Pharmaceuticals discharged into the environment are potentially harmful to wildlife as many of their drug targets are conserved across divergent phyla. Oxidative stress (OS) is a major mechanism by which many pharmaceutical contaminants can induce toxicity but this has received little consideration in the context of effects in wildlife. Further, these mechanisms are relatively poorly understood, particularly regarding multiple stressor interactions. We used transgenic TG(EpRE:mCherry) zebrafish, developed in our laboratory for detecting OS, as our experimental model. We show that the oxidative effects of high concentrations of pharmaceuticals from three different therapeutic classes (paracetamol, diclofenac and doxorubicin) are increased at temperatures elevated by 2-5 °C above those for zebrafish standard husbandry and relevant to their current natural environment (and predicted under the IPCC 2023 scenarios for intermediate to very high greenhouse gas emissions). These OS responses were primarily seen in the pronephros, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. The increase in OS at the increased water temperature may have resulted from the elevated temperature acting as a direct additive physiological stressor to the OS imposed by the drugs and/or via the temperature increasing the chemicals oxidative effect. For paracetamol, it appeared that the elevated responses at the higher temperature of 33 °C were in part due to an increase in uptake of the drug. Our data illustrate that risk assessments for chemicals inducing OS in fish (and likely other heterotherms) should consider the influence of temperature to ensure environmental protection in future environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Boreham
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, UK.
| | - Jonathan S Ball
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Malcolm Hetheridge
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Stewart Owen
- AstraZeneca, Global Environment, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 2NA, UK
| | - Maciej Trznadel
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Charles R Tyler
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, UK.
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Zhou R, Huang X, Xie Z, Ding Z, Wei H, Jin Q. A review focusing on mechanisms and ecological risks of enrichment and propagation of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements by microplastic biofilms. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118737. [PMID: 38493850 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118737] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging ubiquitous pollutants in aquatic environment and have received extensive global attention. In addition to the traditional studies related to the toxicity of MPs and their carrier effects, their unique surface-induced biofilm formation also increases the ecotoxicity potential of MPs from multiple perspectives. In this review, the ecological risks of MPs biofilms were summarized and assessed in detail from several aspects, including the formation and factors affecting the development of MPs biofilms, the selective enrichment and propagation mechanisms of current pollution status of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in MPs biofilms, the dominant bacterial communities in MPs biofilms, as well as the potential risks of ARGs and MGEs transferring from MPs biofilms to aquatic organisms. On this basis, this paper also put forward the inadequacy and prospects of the current research and revealed that the MGEs-mediated ARG propagation on MPs under actual environmental conditions and the ecological risk of the transmission of ARGs and MGEs to aquatic organisms and human beings are hot spots for future research. Relevant research from the perspective of MPs biofilm should be carried out as soon as possible to provide support for the ecological pollution prevention and control of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Zhou
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu Southern Road, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Xirong Huang
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu Southern Road, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Zhongtang Xie
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Zhuhong Ding
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu Southern Road, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Hengchen Wei
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu Southern Road, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Qijie Jin
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu Southern Road, Nanjing, 211816, China
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Beamud SG, Fernández H, Nichela D, Crego MP, Gonzalez-Polo M, Latini L, Aguiar MB, Diblasi L, Parolo ME, Temporetti P. Occurrence of Pharmaceutical Micropollutants in Lake Nahuel Huapi, Argentine Patagonia. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:1274-1284. [PMID: 38558040 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5859] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Tourism is one of the most important activities for the economy of Nor Patagonia Argentina. In Bariloche City, located on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, both the permanent and the temporary populations have increased significantly in recent decades, and this has not necessarily been accompanied by an improvement in sewage networks. Emerging micropollutants such as pharmaceutical compounds reach aquatic systems directly, in the absence of a domestic sewage network, or through effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), which do not efficiently remove these substances and represent a major threat to the environment. Therefore, the objective of our study was to monitor the presence of pharmaceutical compounds discharged both through wastewater effluents and diffusely from housing developments into Lake Nahuel Huapi. The results obtained demonstrate the presence of pharmaceuticals in Lake Nahuel Huapi with concentrations ranging from not detectable (ND) to 110.6 ng L-1 (caffeine). The highest pharmaceutical concentration recorded in WWTP influent corresponded to caffeine (41728 ng L-1), and the lowest concentration was paracetamol (18.8 ng L-1). The removal efficiency of pharmaceuticals in the WWTP was calculated, and ranged from 0% for carbamazepine to 66% for ciprofloxacin. This antibiotic showed the lowest % of attenuation (73%) in Lake Nahuel Huapi. These results on the occurrence of a wide variety of pharmaceuticals are the first generated in Patagonia, representing a regional baseline for this type of micropollutant and valuable information for the subsequent design of removal strategies for emerging pharmaceutical pollutants in surface water. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1274-1284. © 2024 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Guadalupe Beamud
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Horacio Fernández
- Sewerage Service, Treatment Plant, Cooperativa de Electricidad Bariloche, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Daniela Nichela
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Maria Paula Crego
- Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Marina Gonzalez-Polo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Lorena Latini
- Centro de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Agrobiotecnología del Comahue (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional del Comahue), Neuquén, Argentina
| | - María Belén Aguiar
- Centro de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Agrobiotecnología del Comahue (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional del Comahue), Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Lorena Diblasi
- Centro de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Agrobiotecnología del Comahue (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional del Comahue), Neuquén, Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Parolo
- Centro de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Agrobiotecnología del Comahue (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional del Comahue), Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Pedro Temporetti
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina
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Al Ghadeer HA, Alnajjar JS, Aldandan JK, Bokhamseen AA, Al Dandan AM, Almarzoq MA, Alnajjar HJ, Albuti AH, Almuhaini MA, Alsalman MA, Al Sabah SA. Prevalent Parental Practice Toward Drug Storage and Disposal. Cureus 2024; 16:e60449. [PMID: 38883089 PMCID: PMC11179737 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The environment, healthcare services, and public safety can all be directly impacted by improper drug storage and disposal practices. It is unknown whether parents store drugs at home in accordance with recommended storage guidelines, despite the fact that storage conditions are strictly regulated and monitored at every stage of the drug supply chain prior to drug dispensing. Therefore, it is crucial to dispose of medications properly and store them at home to avoid the consequences. Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the drug storage safety measures used by parents to prevent unintentional drug poisoning in children. Methodology A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional, interview-based study on home medication storage, attitudes, and disposal practices between October 2023 and January 2024. We recruited parents who visited primary healthcare centers or pediatric clinics using a convenience sampling technique. Results All of the 353 returned questionnaires were valid for data entry and analysis. The mean age of the parents was 35.1 ± 11.9 years old and more than half of them 229 (64.9%) have bachelor's degrees. The majority of drugs (271, 88.6%) were stored in the fridge, followed by bedrooms (26.8%). The medication classes that were stored the most frequently were analgesics (92.2%) and antihistamines (62.1%). The majority of parents (214, 69.9%) kept medications above adult eye level, even though only 28% did not keep them in safe and secure locations like locked drawers or boxes. Eighty percent (80%) disposed of unwanted medicines by throwing them in the trash, and only 10 (2.8%) returned them to the pharmacy. Conclusions Drug storage at home encourages self-medication, which has a number of negative effects. Over time, there has been an increase in the use of medications due to a rise in people's health-seeking awareness and behavior on a global scale. Therefore, this study may be used as a guide by national policy-makers for pharmaceutical disposal and storage management. Moreover, it might help in raising public awareness of the importance of pharmacists in the society and the safe handling and storage of medications at home.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ali H Albuti
- College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, SAU
| | | | | | - Shifa A Al Sabah
- Nursing, Primary Health Care, Al-Ahsa Health Cluster, Al-Ahsa, SAU
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Zhang ZF, Fan YY, Lu XM, Min XZ, Ma WL, Liu LY, Li YF, Li WL. Seasonal patterns, fate and ecological risk assessment of pharmaceutical compounds in a wastewater treatment plant with Bacillus bio-reactor treatment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 357:120732. [PMID: 38560954 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120732] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) pose a growing concern with potential environmental impacts, commonly introduced into the environment via wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The occurrence, removal, and season variations of 60 different classes of PhCs were investigated in the baffled bioreactor (BBR) wastewater treatment process during summer and winter. The concentrations of 60 PhCs were 3400 ± 1600 ng/L in the influent, 2700 ± 930 ng/L in the effluent, and 2400 ± 120 ng/g dw in sludge. Valsartan (Val, 1800 ng/L) was the main contaminant found in the influent, declining to 520 ng/L in the effluent. The grit chamber and BBR tank were substantially conducive to the removal of VAL. Nonetheless, the BBR process showcased variable removal efficiencies across different PhC classes. Sulfadimidine had the highest removal efficiency of 87 ± 17% in the final effluent (water plus solid phase). Contrasting seasonal patterns were observed among PhC classes within BBR process units. The concentrations of many PhCs were higher in summer than in winter, while some macrolide antibiotics exhibited opposing seasonal fluctuations. A thorough mass balance analysis revealed quinolone and sulfonamide antibiotics were primarily eliminated through degradation and transformation in the BBR process. Conversely, 40.2 g/d of macrolide antibiotics was released to the natural aquatic environment via effluent discharge. Gastric acid and anticoagulants, as well as cardiovascular PhCs, primarily experienced removal through sludge adsorption. This study provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of PhCs in wastewater treatment, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to effectively mitigate their release and potential environmental risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Feng Zhang
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Ecosystem (HPKL-PEE), Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150090, China.
| | - Ying-Ying Fan
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Ecosystem (HPKL-PEE), Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Xi-Mei Lu
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Ecosystem (HPKL-PEE), Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Xi-Ze Min
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Ecosystem (HPKL-PEE), Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Wan-Li Ma
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Ecosystem (HPKL-PEE), Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Li-Yan Liu
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Ecosystem (HPKL-PEE), Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Yi-Fan Li
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Ecosystem (HPKL-PEE), Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150090, China; IJRC-PTS-NA, Toronto, M2N 6X9, Canada
| | - Wen-Long Li
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, 12237, United States.
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Adeoye JB, Tan YH, Lau SY, Tan YY, Chiong T, Mubarak NM, Khalid M. Advanced oxidation and biological integrated processes for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 353:120170. [PMID: 38308991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120170] [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: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The stress of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) discharging to water bodies and the environment due to increased industrialization has reduced the availability of clean water. This poses a potential health hazard to animals and human life because water contamination is a great issue to the climate, plants, humans, and aquatic habitats. Pharmaceutical compounds are quantified in concentrations ranging from ng/Lto μg/L in aquatic environments worldwide. According to (Alsubih et al., 2022), the concentrations of carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, Lutvastatin, ciprofloxacin, and lorazepam were 616-906 ng/L, 16,532-21635 ng/L, 694-2068 ng/L, 734-1178 ng/L, and 2742-3775 ng/L respectively. Protecting and preserving our environment must be well-driven by all sectors to sustain development. Various methods have been utilized to eliminate the emerging pollutants, such as adsorption and biological and advanced oxidation processes. These methods have their benefits and drawbacks in the removal of pharmaceuticals. Successful wastewater treatment can save the water bodies; integrating green initiatives into the main purposes of actor firms, combined with continually periodic awareness of the current and potential implications of environmental/water pollution, will play a major role in water conservation. This article reviews key publications on the adsorption, biological, and advanced oxidation processes used to remove pharmaceutical products from the aquatic environment. It also sheds light on the pharmaceutical adsorption capability of adsorption, biological and advanced oxidation methods, and their efficacy in pharmaceutical concentration removal. A research gap has been identified for researchers to explore in order to eliminate the problem associated with pharmaceutical wastes. Therefore, future study should focus on combining advanced oxidation and adsorption processes for an excellent way to eliminate pharmaceutical products, even at low concentrations. Biological processes should focus on ideal circumstances and microbial processes that enable the simultaneous removal of pharmaceutical compounds and the effects of diverse environments on removal efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Busayo Adeoye
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Yie Hua Tan
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
| | - Sie Yon Lau
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Yee Yong Tan
- Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, Sarawak, Miri, 98009, Malaysia
| | - Tung Chiong
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Biosciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India
| | - Mohammad Khalid
- Sunway Centre for Electrochemical Energy and Sustainable Technology (SCEEST), School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5 Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India; Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India
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Kanyari SS, Senapati TR, Kar A. Disposal Practices of Unused and Expired Medicines Among the General Public and Pharmacies: A Mixed-Method Study in the Odisha State of Eastern India. Cureus 2024; 16:e52359. [PMID: 38361720 PMCID: PMC10867696 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Unused and expired medicines are potentially toxic substances that should be managed effectively to avoid possible environmental hazards. The absence of well-defined protocols in India regarding the proper disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medications raises concerns about the potential for accidental poisoning and environmental threats. Consequently, this research was conducted to evaluate the disposal practices of medications within both urban slum households and pharmacies. Methods This questionnaire-based, mixed-method study was conducted among 385 general public residing in urban slums and 10 registered pharmacies in Bhubaneswar city, India, from September 2020 to August 2021. A semi-structured questionnaire was framed to collect data from the households and the pharmacies; key informant interview was carried out among expert members regarding the disposal of expired medicines. Results Results found that 82.1% (316/385) of the study population threw unused drugs in dustbins, whereas only 2.6% (10/385) returned the medicines to the pharmacy. The most common reason for leftover medicine was the stoppage of drugs on symptomatic relief (53.2%, 205/385), followed by changes in prescription by doctors (18%, 69/385). Out of 10 pharmacies, seven pharmacies disposed of expired drugs in general dustbins. Conclusion Our findings indicate that a majority of the participants tend to dispose of medicines in an unsafe manner. Conversely, the responsible disposal of medications is significantly influenced by patient education. Hence, healthcare professionals are better positioned to impart knowledge to the public, fostering awareness about the proper storage and safe disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Suneeti Kanyari
- Community Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, IND
| | | | - Ansuman Kar
- Community Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, IND
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9
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Xie Y, Guan D, Deng Y, Sato Y, Luo Y, Chen G. Factors hindering the degradation of pharmaceuticals from human urine in an iron-activated persulfate system. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 135:130-148. [PMID: 37778790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the degradation of clofibric acid (CFA), bezafibrate (BZF), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in synthetic human urine using a novel mesoporous iron powder-activated persulfate system (mFe-PS system), and identified the factors limiting their degradation in synthetic human urine. A kinetic model was established to expose the radical production in various reaction conditions, and experiments were conducted to verify the modeling results. In the phosphate-containing mFe-PS system, the 120 min removal efficiency of CFA decreased from 95.1% to 76.6% as the phosphate concentration increased from 0.32 to 6.45 mmol/L, but recovered to 90.5% when phosphate concentration increased to 16.10 mmol/L. Meanwhile, the increased concentration of phosphate from 0.32 to 16.10 mmol/L reduced the BZF degradation efficacy from 91.5% to 79.0%, whereas SMX removal improved from 37.3% to 62.9%. The mFe-PS system containing (bi)carbonate, from 4.20 to 166.70 mmol/L, reduced CFA and BZF removal efficiencies from 100% to 76.8% and 80.4%, respectively, and SMX from 83.5% to 56.7% within a 120-min reaction time. In addition, alkaline conditions (pH ≥ 8.0) inhibited CFA and BZF degradations, while nonacidic pH (pH ≥ 7.0) remarkably inhibited SMX degradation. Results of the kinetic model indicated the formation of phosphate (H2PO4·/HPO4·-) and/or carbonate radicals (CO3·-) could limit pharmaceutical removal. The transformation products (TPs) of the pharmaceuticals revealed more incompletely oxidized TPs occurred in the phosphate- and (bi)carbonate-containing mFe-PS systems, and indicated that H2PO4·/HPO4·- mainly degraded pharmaceuticals via a benzene ring-opening reaction while CO3·- preferentially oxidized pharmaceuticals via a hydroxylation reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiruiwen Xie
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Technology Lab, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Dao Guan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Technology Lab, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Yangfan Deng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Technology Lab, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yugo Sato
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Technology Lab, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yu Luo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Technology Lab, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Guanghao Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Technology Lab, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China.
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10
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Ni R, Wang S, Lin X, Song L. Antibiotics inhibit methanogenesis during municipal solid waste decomposition. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167397. [PMID: 37758143 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167397] [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: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are significant sources of antibiotics. However, the effects of antibiotics on MSW decomposition process and methanogenesis during solid waste decomposition remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations (ERCs) of antibiotics (200 μg/kg for each antibiotic) on MSW decomposition and methanogenesis in bioreactors treated with and without eight antibiotics (three tetracyclines, three sulfonamides, and two macrolides). The key phases of MSW decomposition, namely the aerobic, anaerobic acid, and methanogenic phases, were determined by analyzing the key physiochemical parameters of the leachate, including pH, chemical oxygen demand, and biochemical oxygen demand. We assessed the bacterial and archaeal compositions, along with the abundance of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of methyl-coenzyme M reductase (mcrA), during MSW decomposition using high throughput 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reactions, respectively. Our results revealed that antibiotics significantly altered the compositions of bacteria and methanogens, leading to decreased mcrA abundance and methanogenesis. Specifically, antibiotics inhibited cellulose-degrading bacteria (Firmicutes) and archaea (E2) in the anaerobic acid phase and hydrolytic bacteria (Proteobacteria) in the methanogenic phase, resulting in lower degradation of biodegradable matter than that of the biodegradation without antibiotics treatment. However, the typical MSW decomposition process indicated by the key decomposition phases was successfully separated in both bioreactors, suggesting that antibiotics did not affect overall MSW decomposition process development or the associated individual decomposition phases establishment. These findings suggest that antibiotics at ERCs may inhibit methanogenesis during MSW decomposition, thereby providing fundamental information for methane management and climate change studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjie Ni
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi 247230, China
| | - Shuijing Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi 247230, China
| | - Xiaoxing Lin
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi 247230, China
| | - Liyan Song
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi 247230, China.
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11
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Medkova D, Hollerova A, Blahova J, Marsalek P, Mares J, Hodkovicova N, Doubkova V, Hesova R, Tichy F, Faldyna M, Taştan Y, Kotoucek J, Svobodova Z, Lakdawala P. Medicine designed to combat diseases of affluence affects the early development of fish. How do plastic microparticles contribute? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166378. [PMID: 37595903 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166378] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of diseases of affluence, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol has been reported to rise. Consequently, the concentrations of residues of drugs designed to treat these diseases have been rising in water bodies. Moreover, the toxicity of these pharmaceuticals towards fish and other non-target organisms can be even enhanced by microplastic particles that are reportedly present in surface water. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the effects of three highly prescribed drugs, in particular metoprolol, enalapril, and metformin on fish early-life stages. Also, it was hypothesized that polystyrene microparticles will increase the toxicity of metoprolol to fish early-life stages. Embryonal acute toxicity tests on Danio rerio and Cyprinus carpio were carried out in order to describe the possible toxic effects of metoprolol, enalapril, and metformin. Also, the acute toxicity of polystyrene microparticles and the combination of metoprolol with polystyrene microparticles were tested on D. rerio embryos. Additionally, a 31-day long embryo-larval subchronic toxicity test was carried out with C. carpio in order to describe the long-term effects of low concentrations of metoprolol. The results of the study show that both metoprolol and enalapril have the potential to disrupt the early development of the heart in the embryonal stages of fish. Also, enalapril and metformin together with polystyrene microparticles seem to possibly disrupt the reproduction cycle and act as endocrine disruptors. Both pure polystyrene microparticles and the combination of them with metoprolol affect inflammatory processes in organisms. Additionally, metformin alters several metabolism pathways in fish early-life stages. The results of the study bring new evidence that even low, environmentally-relevant concentrations of pharmaceuticals have the potential to disrupt the early development of fish, particularly on a molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denisa Medkova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Faculty of Agrisciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aneta Hollerova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Blahova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Marsalek
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Mares
- Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Faculty of Agrisciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Hodkovicova
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Doubkova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Renata Hesova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Tichy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Faldyna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yiğit Taştan
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Turkiye
| | - Jan Kotoucek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenka Svobodova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Lakdawala
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic.
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12
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Alnsour M, Moqbel S. Enhancing environmental sustainability through a household pharmaceuticals take-back program in Jordan. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1424. [PMID: 37934353 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12050-7] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Most homes have unwanted, discarded, unused, or expired pharmaceuticals. These pharmaceuticals can pose health risks if they are not properly disposed of. Active pharmaceutical ingredients have been detected in water resources at an alarming level globally and recently in Jordanian waters. Unfortunately, no programs or regulations are addressing this problem in Jordan. This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the stakeholders' potential involvement in establishing a pharmaceutical take-back program in Jordan. The study was designed to determine the focal points of establishing a pharmaceutical take-back program using a qualitative cross-sectional approach and using a force field analysis to put together a plan for a successful program in Jordan. The study conducted three surveys using structured questionnaires and interviews with officials to evaluate the attitude toward the pharmaceutical take-back program, awareness of environmental impacts, and current conditions of household pharmaceuticals in Jordan. The questionnaires were assigned to the public, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and pharmaceutical warehouses. The interviews were conducted with the Ministry of Environment, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and pharmaceutical warehouses. Most of the pharmaceutical producers (85% manufacturers and 94% warehouses) refused to participate voluntarily in the program due to the extra cost incurred. On the other hand, the public and the Ministry of Environment were supportive of establishing the program. The study revealed that there is a lack of awareness among the public toward household pharmaceuticals. About 77% of the public questionnaire respondents reported they had not received any information on how to dispose safely of their unwanted pharmaceuticals. Also, about 61% reported that they have concerns that household pharmaceuticals might contaminate the water resources in Jordan. Following the questionnaires' analysis, the study determined the main forces against establishing a pharmaceutical take-back program as the unwillingness of producers to participate, weak logistic support, lack of public awareness, and low public participation. A force field analysis (FFA) was conducted based on the forces determined from the questionnaires. Accordingly, the study recommends developing a comprehensive legislation and regulatory framework for household pharmaceuticals' recovery, establishing a monitoring entity, securing funds, and implementing a long-term awareness and education plan to support the establishment of a pharmaceutical take-back program in Jordan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Alnsour
- Civil Engineering Department, School of Engineering, University of Jordan, Queen Rania St, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Shadi Moqbel
- Civil Engineering Department, School of Engineering, University of Jordan, Queen Rania St, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
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13
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Akande-Sholabi W, Olaoye DQ, Adebisi YA. Drug take-back program: assessment of knowledge, practices, and barriers to safe disposal of unused medication among healthcare students in a Nigerian university. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2023; 23:810. [PMID: 37891609 PMCID: PMC10605967 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04788-y] [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: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The safe disposal of unused medication is a critical public health issue, with risks including environmental pollution, accidental ingestion, and misuse. Inadequate adherence to proper disposal methods among healthcare students could affect the practice of safe disposal of unused medicines as future healthcare professionals. This study, conducted at a Nigerian university, aimed to assess the knowledge, adherence to safe disposal practices, and barriers faced by healthcare professional students regarding unused medication disposal. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out among 930 healthcare students in a Nigerian University, comprising medical and surgery, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and medical laboratory science students. Information was gathered from respondents using a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between specific variables and participants' knowledge and practice scores, while chi-square and logistic regression tests were used for categorical variables at p < 0.05. RESULTS A total of 930 students participated in this study. The results revealed a significant gap in knowledge, with (67.7%; 630) of the participants unaware of proper disposal methods and most scoring either 0 (31.9%; 297) or 1 (46.0%; 428) out of 4 on a knowledge-based questionnaire. Pharmacy students were the most knowledgeable, with 44.4% falling into the high knowledge category. However, their knowledge did not always correspond to correct practices, with only (10.1%; 94) of participants reporting use of recommended disposal methods such as returning unused medicine to a pharmacy or a drug take-back program. Significant associations were found with course of study (χ²=12.14, p = 0.033) and awareness of correct disposal methods (χ²=4.035, p = 0.045). Those aware of the correct disposal method had a higher odds ratio of high knowledge score (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.1-2.41, p = 0.018) compared to those who were not aware. In terms of disposal practices, those who had received training on safe disposal had significantly higher odds of good practice score (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.36-3.74, p = 0.002). Major barriers identified included lack of access to drug take-back programs (50.4%; 469), lack of knowledge (36.8%; 342), and inconvenience (10.3%; 14). CONCLUSION A knowledge gap was revealed among the respondents regarding the safe disposal of unused medications. Despite the presence of knowledge and awareness, these do not necessarily translate into good disposal practices. This call for strategies to overcome identified barriers, with the aim to bridge the knowledge-practice gap and promote safe disposal of unused medication. The study underscores the urgent need for improved public health policies and educational programs on safe medication disposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuraola Akande-Sholabi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | | | - Yusuff A Adebisi
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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14
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Sanusi IO, Olutona GO, Wawata IG, Onohuean H. Occurrence, environmental impact and fate of pharmaceuticals in groundwater and surface water: a critical review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:90595-90614. [PMID: 37488386 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28802-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
In many nations and locations, groundwater serves as the population's primary drinking water supply. However, pharmaceuticals found in groundwater and surface waters may affect aquatic ecosystems and public health. As a result, their existence in natural raw waters are now more widely acknowledged as a concern. This review summarises the evidence of research on pharmaceuticals' occurrence, impact and fate, considering results from different water bodies. Also, various analytical techniques were reviewed to compare different pharmaceuticals' detection frequencies in water bodies. These include liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). However, owing to LC-MS's high sensitivity and specification, it is the most reported instrument used for analysis. The PRISMA reviewing methodology was adopted based on relevant literature in order to focus on aim of the review. Among other pharmaceuticals reviewed, sulfamethoxazole was found to be the most frequently detected drug in wastewater (up to 100% detection frequency). The most reported pharmaceutical group in this review is antibiotics, with sulfamethoxazole having the highest concentration among the analysed pharmaceuticals in groundwater and freshwater (up to 5600 ng/L). Despite extensive study and analysis on the occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals in the environment, appropriate wastewater management and disposal of pharmaceuticals in the water environment are not still monitored regularly. Therefore, there is a need for mainstream studies tailored to the surveillance of pharmaceuticals in water bodies to limit environmental risks to human and aquatic habitats in both mid and low-income nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idris Olatunji Sanusi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda.
| | - Godwin Oladele Olutona
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda
- Industrial Chemistry Programme, College of Agriculture Engineering and Science, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria
- Department of Basic Science, School of Science and Technology, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda
| | - Ibrahim Garba Wawata
- Department of Basic Science, School of Science and Technology, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, PMB +243 1144, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria
| | - Hope Onohuean
- Biomolecules, Metagenomics, Endocrine and Tropical Disease Research Group (BMETDREG), Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda
- Biopharmaceutics Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda
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15
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Yang L, Tu PH, Zhang CX, Xie RR, Dong M, Jing Y, Chen X, Wei G, Song HD. Influence of two anti-tumor drugs, pazopanib, and axitinib, on the development and thyroid-axis of zebrafish ( Danio rerio) embryos/larvae. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1204678. [PMID: 37600710 PMCID: PMC10433177 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1204678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In recent years, the potential toxicities of different pharmaceuticals toward the thyroid system have received increasing attention. In this study, we aim to evaluate the toxic effects of pazopanib and axitinib, two anti-tumor drugs with widespread clinical use, on thyroid function in the zebrafish model. Methods We measured levels of thyroid-related hormones using the commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) analysis was employed to detect target gene expression changes. Morphology of the thyroid were evaluated by using transgenic Tg (tg: EGFP) fish line under a confocal microscope. The relative mRNA expression of key genes was verified through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR). The size and number of the follicles was quantified whereby Hematoxylin-Eosin (H & E) staining under a light microscope. Results The results revealed that fertilized zebrafish embryos were incubated in pazopanib or axitinib for 96 hours, development and survival were significantly affected, which was accompanied by significant disturbances in thyroid endocrine system (e.g., increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) content and decreased triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) content, as well as transcription changes of genes associated with the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. Moreover, based on whole-mount in situ hybridization staining of tg and histopathological examination of zebrafish embryos treated with pazopanib and axitinib, we observed a significantly abnormal development of thyroid follicles in the Tg (tg: EGFP) zebrafish transgenic line. Conclusion Collectively, these findings indicate that pazopanib and axitinib may have toxic effects on thyroid development and function, at least partially, by influencing the regulation of the HPT axis. Thus, we believe that the potential thyroid toxicities of pazopanib and axitinib in their clinical applications should receive greater attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping-hui Tu
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cao-xu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Rong-rong Xie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Diabetes Institute, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Dong
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Jing
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Gongli Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Wei
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Diabetes Institute, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huai-dong Song
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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16
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Pronschinske MA, Corsi SR, Hockings C. Evaluating pharmaceuticals and other organic contaminants in the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes using risk-based screening techniques. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286571. [PMID: 37267346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In an investigation of pharmaceutical contamination in the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes (hereafter referred to as "the Chain"), few contaminants were detected; only eight pharmaceuticals and one pesticide were identified among the 110 pharmaceuticals and other organic contaminants monitored in surface water samples. This study, conducted in cooperation with the Lac du Flambeau Tribe's Water Resource Program, investigated these organic contaminants and potential biological effects in channels connecting lakes throughout the Chain, including the Moss Lake Outlet site, adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant lagoon. Of the 6 sites monitored and 24 samples analyzed, sample concentrations and contaminant detection frequencies were greatest at the Moss Lake Outlet site; however, the concentrations and detection frequencies of this study were comparable to other pharmaceutical investigations in basins with similar characteristics. Because established water-quality benchmarks do not exist for the pharmaceuticals detected in this study, alternative screening-level water-quality benchmarks, developed using two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency toxicological resources (ToxCast database and ECOTOX knowledgebase), were used to estimate potential biological effects associated with the observed contaminant concentrations. Two contaminants (caffeine and thiabendazole) exceeded the prioritization threshold according to ToxCast alternative benchmarks, and four contaminants (acetaminophen, atrazine, caffeine, and carbamazepine) exceeded the prioritization threshold according to ECOTOX alternative benchmarks. Atrazine, an herbicide, was the most frequently detected contaminant (79% of samples), and it exhibited the strongest potential for biological effects due to its high estimated potency. Insufficient toxicological information within ToxCast and ECOTOX for gabapentin and methocarbamol (which had the two greatest concentrations in this study) precluded alternative benchmark development. This data gap presents unknown potential environmental impacts. Future research examining the biological effects elicited by these two contaminants as well as the others detected in this study would further elucidate the ecological relevance of the water chemistry results generated though this investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Pronschinske
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Steven R Corsi
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Celeste Hockings
- Water Resource Program, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, United States of America
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17
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Chung E, Russo DP, Ciallella HL, Wang YT, Wu M, Aleksunes LM, Zhu H. Data-Driven Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Modeling for Human Carcinogenicity by Chronic Oral Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6573-6588. [PMID: 37040559 PMCID: PMC10134506 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Traditional methodologies for assessing chemical toxicity are expensive and time-consuming. Computational modeling approaches have emerged as low-cost alternatives, especially those used to develop quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models. However, conventional QSAR models have limited training data, leading to low predictivity for new compounds. We developed a data-driven modeling approach for constructing carcinogenicity-related models and used these models to identify potential new human carcinogens. To this goal, we used a probe carcinogen dataset from the US Environmental Protection Agency's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) to identify relevant PubChem bioassays. Responses of 25 PubChem assays were significantly relevant to carcinogenicity. Eight assays inferred carcinogenicity predictivity and were selected for QSAR model training. Using 5 machine learning algorithms and 3 types of chemical fingerprints, 15 QSAR models were developed for each PubChem assay dataset. These models showed acceptable predictivity during 5-fold cross-validation (average CCR = 0.71). Using our QSAR models, we can correctly predict and rank 342 IRIS compounds' carcinogenic potentials (PPV = 0.72). The models predicted potential new carcinogens, which were validated by a literature search. This study portends an automated technique that can be applied to prioritize potential toxicants using validated QSAR models based on extensive training sets from public data resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Chung
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Daniel P. Russo
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Heather L. Ciallella
- Department
of Toxicology, Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s
Office, 11001 Cedar Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Yu-Tang Wang
- Institute
of Agro-Products Processing Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Products
Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Min Wu
- School
of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical
University, No. 24, Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lauren M. Aleksunes
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers
University, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Hao Zhu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
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18
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Hanamoto S, Yamamoto-Ikemoto R, Tanaka H. Spatiotemporal distribution of veterinary and human drugs and its predictability in Japanese catchments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161514. [PMID: 36634780 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the predictability of mass flows of veterinary drugs in Asian catchments, where effluent from livestock farms is a major source. We therefore conducted this study to understand the applicability and limitations of a population-based emission model, which assumed usage of veterinary and human drugs to be evenly distributed over the national livestock or human population throughout the year, and sources to be effluent discharges at livestock farms, households, and sewage treatment plants in Japanese catchments. We monitored five veterinary drugs (lincomycin, sulfamonomethoxine, tiamulin, tylosin, and tilmicosin), two human and livestock drugs (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim), two human drugs (carbamazepine and clarithromycin), and a metabolite (sulfapyridine) of a human drug once a month over 2 years in eight Japanese rivers which have active livestock farming in their catchments. Mass flows of carbamazepine and sulfapyridine were stable, while those of veterinary drugs fluctuated widely, especially sulfamonomethoxine and tilmicosin, whose 25 %-100 % ranges averaged 1.5 and 1.2 log units, respectively, attributable mainly to their usage patterns. The model accurately predicted mean mass flows of carbamazepine in the rivers with errors of <±0.3 log unit. Although it slightly to moderately overestimated those of the other four human-related compounds, the incorporation of an empirical correction factor, determined to minimize mean absolute error (MAE) among the rivers, substantially lowered their MAEs to <0.23 log units. However, the MAEs of the five veterinary drugs were as high as 0.42 (sulfamonomethoxine) to 0.60 (tiamulin) log units even with the coefficient, likely due mainly to the spatial distribution of their usage per capita. So as not to overlook spatiotemporal elevation of risks of veterinary drugs, a stochastic method should be applied in their management. This is the first study to assess the use of spatiotemporal homogeneity in usage per capita of veterinary drugs in Asian catchments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiya Hanamoto
- Environment Preservation Center, Kanazawa University, Kakumamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan.
| | - Ryoko Yamamoto-Ikemoto
- Environment Preservation Center, Kanazawa University, Kakumamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, 1-2 Yumihama, Otsu, Shiga 520-0811, Japan
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Muflih SM, Al-Azzam S, Karasneh RA, Bleidt BA, Conway BR, Bond SE, Aldeyab MA. Public knowledge of antibiotics, self-medication, and household disposal practices in Jordan. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:477-487. [PMID: 36843495 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2182770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to assess public understanding of antibiotics, self-medication, and drug disposal practices. METHODS A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was undertaken in Jordan. RESULTS The study was completed by 1,105 participants. When asked about their knowledge of antibiotics, rational antibiotic use, and disposal practices, 16% percent believed they should discontinue antibiotics once they felt better, and 12% agreed to take the same antibiotics prescribed to others for the same illness. Self-medication with antibiotics was practiced by 44% of the participants. Prior experience, healthcare costs, and pharmacy location were all major determinants of self-medication. Only 6.4% of unneeded antibiotics were returned to the pharmacy, 60% were kept at home, and 26.6% were disposed of at home. Almost half of those who kept the antibiotics said they would use them again, and one-third said they would give them to friends and family. Respondents who had used antibiotics within the previous 6 months (p = 0.052) and relied on medication leaflets (p = 0.031) and physician recommendations (p = 0.001) were less likely to self-medicate with antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS The study highlighted areas of inappropriate use of antibiotics, self-medication and the improper antibiotic disposal that can inform antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhaib M Muflih
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Sayer Al-Azzam
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Reema A Karasneh
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Barry A Bleidt
- Department of Socio behavioral and Administrative Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Davie-Fl, USA
| | - Barbara R Conway
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.,Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
| | - Stuart E Bond
- Pharmacy Department, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakefield, UK
| | - Mamoon A Aldeyab
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
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Kumar M, Sridharan S, Sawarkar AD, Shakeel A, Anerao P, Mannina G, Sharma P, Pandey A. Current research trends on emerging contaminants pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs): A comprehensive review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160031. [PMID: 36372172 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical and personnel care products (PPCPs) from wastewater are a potential hazard to the human health and wildlife, and their occurrence in wastewater has caught the concern of researchers recently. To deal with PPCPs, various treatment technologies have been evolved such as physical, biological, and chemical methods. Nevertheless, modern and efficient techniques such as advance oxidation processes (AOPs) demand expensive chemicals and energy, which ultimately leads to a high treatment cost. Therefore, integration of chemical techniques with biological processes has been recently suggested to decrease the expenses. Furthermore, combining ozonation with activated carbon (AC) can significantly enhance the removal efficiency. There are some other emerging technologies of lower operational cost like photo-Fenton method and solar radiation-based methods as well as constructed wetland, which are promising. However, feasibility and practicality in pilot-scale have not been estimated for most of these advanced treatment technologies. In this context, the present review work explores the treatment of emerging PPCPs in wastewater, via available conventional, non-conventional, and integrated technologies. Furthermore, this work focused on the state-of-art technologies via an extensive literature search, highlights the limitations and challenges of the prevailing commercial technologies. Finally, this work provides a brief discussion and offers future research directions on technologies needed for treatment of wastewater containing PPCPs, accompanied by techno-economic feasibility assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kumar
- Engineering Department, Palermo University, Viale delle Scienze, Ed.8, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Srinidhi Sridharan
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India; CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ankush D Sawarkar
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, Maharashtra 440 010, India
| | - Adnan Shakeel
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Prathmesh Anerao
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Giorgio Mannina
- Engineering Department, Palermo University, Viale delle Scienze, Ed.8, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Prabhakar Sharma
- School of Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Rajgir 803116, India
| | - Ashok Pandey
- Centre for Innovation and Translational Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow 226 001, India; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248 007, India; Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Lucknow 226 029, India.
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21
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Robinson RFA, Mills GA, Gravell A, Schumacher M, Fones GR. Occurrence of organic pollutants in the River Itchen and River Test-two chalk streams in Southern England, UK. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:17965-17983. [PMID: 36205867 PMCID: PMC9928825 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23476-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The River Itchen and River Test, two chalk streams in Southern England, are sites of special scientific interest. These ecosystems face a number of environmental pressures from anthropogenic inputs of organic pollutants. Hence, we investigated the occurrence of these chemicals within the two catchments. Spot water samples (1 L) were collected at nineteen sites along the catchment on two occasions (March and June 2019). Samples were extracted (HLB-L sorbent disks) and analysed using high-resolution liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Compounds were identified against commercially available databases. Using this approach, we found 115 pharmaceutical and personal care products, 81 plant protection products and 35 industrial chemicals. This complex mixture of pollutants covered a range of physico-chemical properties and included priority substances in the EU Water Framework Directive or currently on the third Watch List. Both rivers had similar chemical profiles for both months. Herbicides and fungicides were dominant in the spring, whereas insecticides occurred more frequently in the summer. Point discharges from wastewater treatment plants were the main source of pharmaceutical and personal care products. Agricultural activities were the main contributor to the presence of plant protection products. The impact of these organic chemicals on the ecology, particularly on macroinvertebrate biodiversity, is unknown and warrants further investigation. Our suspect screening approach could guide future toxicological investigations to assess the environmental impacts of these diverse chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosamund F A Robinson
- School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, PO1 3QL, UK
| | - Graham A Mills
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK
| | - Anthony Gravell
- Natural Resources Wales, Faraday Building, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Melanie Schumacher
- Natural Resources Wales, Faraday Building, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Gary R Fones
- School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, PO1 3QL, UK.
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22
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Veiga A, Sousa AC, Sousa C, Oliveira M, Neto B. End-of-life management strategies of pharmaceuticals in Portuguese households. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2023; 41:235-247. [PMID: 35894451 PMCID: PMC9773154 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x221105416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The end of life of pharmaceutical products through environmentally unsafe routes is a growing concern in our society. However, the studies reported so far, apart from being limited in number, do not reflect the current management practices for the end-of-life management of pharmaceuticals. Published work lacks an in-depth analysis in focusing on the pharmaceutical waste in households. The present work focused on (1) performing a state-of-the art overview to compare worldwide studies and the results and (2) implementing a comprehensive survey in Portugal (n = 454 respondents). The results showed that the delivery to pharmacies was used by the majority of the respondents (72%), indicating a good awareness of pharmaceutical waste management issues, when compared to the reviewed studies. Statistically significant variables for the destination of end-of-use pharmaceuticals include gender, age and distance from the residence to the pharmacy (p < 0.05). Most participants believe that educating the population on existing structures of medication and packaging management is of the utmost importance to improve the national managing system. This is the first study conducted in Portugal; it includes statistical analysis of the data and reflects on the practices that should be adopted to reduce incorrect pharmaceutical waste disposal. These findings call upon the strategies to strengthen the pharmaceutical waste management programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Veiga
- LEPABE – Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE – Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF – Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina – Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Sousa
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Manuel Oliveira
- DEMM, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Belmira Neto
- LEPABE – Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE – Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- DEMM, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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23
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Hajj A, Domiati S, Haddad C, Sacre H, Akl M, Akel M, Tawil S, Abramian S, Zeenny RM, Hodeib F, Salameh P. Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the disposal of expired and unused medications among the Lebanese population. J Pharm Policy Pract 2022; 15:107. [PMID: 36585685 PMCID: PMC9802024 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-022-00506-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medication waste is a public health problem affecting developed and developing countries. In Lebanon, a developing country in the Middle East, efforts are being deployed in hospitals but not in the community. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to validate a questionnaire to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards the disposal of unused and expired medicines among the Lebanese population and then identify the factors associated with these variables comparatively between the general population and healthcare professionals. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general Lebanese population in May-June 2022 using a standardized questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the KAP scales were assessed, then a thorough statistical analysis was done to explore the factors associated with these scales. RESULTS The KAP scales generated by this study were valid and reliable. Using these scales, 24.5%, 22.6%, and 21% of participants demonstrated proper knowledge, attitude, and practice, respectively. Higher knowledge scores were significantly associated with female gender (Beta = 0.97), a high monthly income (Beta = 1.68), a secondary (Beta = 6.11) or university (Beta = 6.80) education level, and postgraduate education (Beta = 7.13). However, older age (Beta = - 0.06) and a low monthly income (Beta = - 3.06) were significantly associated with lower knowledge scores. A higher knowledge score (Beta = 0.06) was significantly associated with a more positive attitude regarding unused or expired medication disposal. Being a healthcare professional (Beta = 0.72) was significantly associated with a higher practice score, while being a female (Beta = - 0.32) and living in a rural area (Beta = - 0.37) were significantly associated with lower practice scores. CONCLUSION This study validated KAP scales regarding medication waste in Lebanon and showed low KAP scores in the majority of respondents. Factors associated with higher KAP scores in various aspects of medication disposal, including gender, age, education level, and profession (healthcare professionals), suggest the need to consider those when implementing targeted corrective measures. Although further studies are required to confirm our findings, this study could be the ground for a medication waste management national strategy in Lebanon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Hajj
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada ,INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.411081.d0000 0000 9471 1794Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.42271.320000 0001 2149 479XLaboratoire de Pharmacologie, Pharmacie Clinique et Contrôle de Qualité Des Médicaments (LPCQM), Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Souraya Domiati
- grid.18112.3b0000 0000 9884 2169Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Chadia Haddad
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.411323.60000 0001 2324 5973School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon ,grid.512933.f0000 0004 0451 7867Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon ,grid.444428.a0000 0004 0508 3124School of Health Sciences, Modern University for Business and Science, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hala Sacre
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,Drug Information Center, Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maria Akl
- grid.8991.90000 0004 0425 469XFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Marwan Akel
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.444421.30000 0004 0417 6142Pharmacy Practice Department, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.475243.30000 0001 0729 6738International Pharmaceutical Federation, The Hague, Netherlands
| | - Samah Tawil
- grid.411323.60000 0001 2324 5973School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon ,Drug Information Center, Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Soula Abramian
- Drug Information Center, Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rony M. Zeenny
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.411654.30000 0004 0581 3406Department of Pharmacy, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Fadi Hodeib
- grid.444421.30000 0004 0417 6142Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Pascale Salameh
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.411323.60000 0001 2324 5973School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon ,grid.413056.50000 0004 0383 4764Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus ,grid.411324.10000 0001 2324 3572Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon
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24
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Low BY, Ting KN, Lee MK. Knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists towards household pharmaceutical waste disposal. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE 2022; 31:261-265. [PMID: 36534990 DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riac101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists (CP) towards household pharmaceutical waste disposal.
Methods
All pharmacists attending the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild event held in-person were invited to self-administer a web-based survey.
Key findings
The response rate was 61% (168/276). Overall, community pharmacists have mixed knowledge (mean ± SD: 5.89 ± 1.38) and positive attitude (mean ± SD: 9.58 ± 0.81) towards household pharmaceutical waste disposal. However, few community pharmacists (18/168, 10.7%) have promotional materials encouraging safe medication disposal in their pharmacies.
Conclusions
Community pharmacists do not proactively promote safe household pharmaceutical waste disposal to mitigate pharmaceutical pollutants entering the environment although they have satisfactory knowledge and attitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bee Yean Low
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia , Semenyih, Selangor , Malaysia
| | - Kang Nee Ting
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia , Semenyih, Selangor , Malaysia
| | - Mei Kee Lee
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia , Semenyih, Selangor , Malaysia
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25
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Arun S, Xin L, Gaonkar O, Neppolian B, Zhang G, Chakraborty P. Antibiotics in sewage treatment plants, receiving water bodies and groundwater of Chennai city and the suburb, South India: Occurrence, removal efficiencies, and risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158195. [PMID: 35995170 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The presence of antibiotics in the aqueous environment can alter the water microbiome, inducing antimicrobial resistance genes. Hence, the occurrence of 18 antibiotics belonging to sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, phenicols, and macrolides classes were investigated in surface water, groundwater, and sewage treatment plants in Chennai city and the suburbs. Fluoroquinolones had the maximum detection frequency in both influent and effluent samples of urban and suburban STPs, with ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin showing the highest influent concentrations. Erythromycin was the predominant antibiotic in surface water samples with an average concentration of 194.4 ng/L. All the detected antibiotic concentrations were higher in the Buckingham Canal compared to those in Adyar and Cooum rivers, possibly due to direct sewer outfalls in the canal. In groundwater samples, ciprofloxacin showed the highest levels with an average of 20.48 ng/L and the concentrations were comparable to those of surface water. The average sulfamethazine concentration in groundwater (5.2 ng/L) was found to be slightly higher than that of the surface water and much higher than the STP influent concentrations. High levels of ciprofloxacin and sulfamethazine in groundwater may be because of their high solubility and wide use. Moreover, erythromycin was completely removed after treatment in urban STPs; FQs showed relatively lesser removal efficiency (2.4-54%) in urban STPs and (8-44%) in suburban STP. Tetracyclines and phenicols were not detected in any of the samples. Ciprofloxacin and azithromycin in surface water pose a high risk in terms of estimated antibiotic resistance. This study revealed that the measured surface water concentration of antibiotics were 500 times higher for some compounds than the predicted calculated concentrations from STP effluents. Therefore, we suspect the direct sewage outlets or open drains might play an important role in contaminating surface water bodies in Chennai city.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sija Arun
- Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603 203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Liu Xin
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | | | - B Neppolian
- Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603 203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gan Zhang
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Paromita Chakraborty
- Environmental Science and Technology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603 203, Tamil Nadu, India.
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26
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Wang X, Gao K, Ma J, Liu F, Wang X, Li D, Yang M. Analysis of the chloride ion removal mechanism from simulated wastewater by discarded vitamin tablets. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 86:2483-2494. [PMID: 36450668 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2022.355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Vitamin (VM) tablets are often discarded or incinerated as medical waste, and untreated highly chlorinated wastewater is discharged, polluting the environment. In this study, Cu2+ was reduced by vitamin C (VC, a component of VM), and the precipitate formed by the reaction of its product with Cl- in water was used to remove Cl- from simulated wastewater. This allows for the resourceful use of waste VM, while also achieving the goal of dechlorinating wastewater. Meanwhile, the effect of various parameters on dechlorination was studied, and the dechlorination mechanism was analyzed. According to the results, the removal rate of Cl- increased first and then decreased with pH, removal time and reaction temperature. Using VC in VM to dechlorinate simulated wastewater, the removal rate of Cl- was 94.31% under optimum conditions: pH 2.5, temperature 30 °C and reaction time 10 minutes. According to the dechlorination process, it can be inferred that Cu2+ is reduced to Cu+ by VC, and Cu+ and Cl- coprecipitate to remove Cl-. Therefore, it is feasible to use discarded VM to treat high concentration chlorine-containing wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wang
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Kangning Gao
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Jingyi Ma
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Feihong Liu
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Dengxin Li
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Research Center of Analysis & Measurement, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China E-mail:
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27
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Wang Y, Yu Z, Ding P, Lu J, Klümper U, Murray AK, Gaze WH, Guo J. Non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals promote conjugative plasmid transfer at a community-wide level. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:124. [PMID: 35953866 PMCID: PMC9373378 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01314-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a critical role in the spread of antibiotic resistance and the evolutionary shaping of bacterial communities. Conjugation is the most well characterized pathway for the spread of antibiotic resistance, compared to transformation and transduction. While antibiotics have been found to induce HGT, it remains unknown whether non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals can facilitate conjugation at a microbial community-wide level. RESULTS In this study, we demonstrate that several commonly consumed non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals (including carbamazepine, ibuprofen, naproxen and propranolol), at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.5 mg/L), can promote the conjugative transfer of IncP1-α plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance across entire microbial communities. The over-generation of reactive oxygen species in response to these non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals may contribute to the enhanced conjugation ratios. Cell sorting and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analyses indicated that non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals modulate transconjugant microbial communities at both phylum and genus levels. Moreover, microbial uptake ability of the IncP1-α plasmid was also upregulated under non-antibiotic pharmaceutical exposure. Several opportunistic pathogens, such as Acinetobacter and Legionella, were more likely to acquire the plasmid conferring multidrug resistance. CONCLUSIONS Considering the high possibility of co-occurrence of pathogenic bacteria, conjugative IncP1-α plasmids and non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals in various environments (e.g., activated sludge systems), our findings illustrate the potential risk associated with increased dissemination of antibiotic resistance promoted by non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals in complex environmental settings. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Zhigang Yu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Pengbo Ding
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ji Lu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Uli Klümper
- Institute for Hydrobiology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01217, Dresden, Germany
| | - Aimee K Murray
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Environment & Sustainability Institute, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - William H Gaze
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Environment & Sustainability Institute, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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Jha N, Kafle S, Bhandary S, Shankar PR. Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of disposing and storing unused and expired medicines among the communities of Kathmandu, Nepal. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272635. [PMID: 35925995 PMCID: PMC9352092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Unused medicines can be stored by many people at their places of residence and houses for later use. This study evaluated knowledge, and attitudes regarding unused and expired medicines and explored medicine storage and disposal practices among selected households in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Method A cross-sectional study with a two-stage cluster survey design was done using a semi-structured questionnaire from April to October 2021. The sample size (total number of households) after adjusting for design effect and non-response rate was 210 and the study population was the household heads. Simple random sampling was done to select clusters during the first stage and systematic random sampling to select households during the second stage. Descriptive statistics and t-test/one-way ANOVA were used to compare the respondents’ average knowledge scores. Practice variables were presented using frequency distribution. Results Around half the respondents were from the Kathmandu district, nearly 20% were from Bhaktapur and 30% were from Lalitpur. Nearly two-thirds were male and about 25% had a bachelor’s degree. Nearly 90% of respondents agreed that storage of excess medicines at home may promote self-medication. Similarly, 97.6% of respondents agreed there is a lack of adequate information on the safe disposal of unused medicines. The majority [125 (59.5%)] of participants always checked the expiry date of medicines. The safe methods of medicine disposal were not known by 137 (65.2%) participants. Throwing in a dustbin was the preferred method of expired medicine disposal. Conclusion The level of knowledge and practice of disposing of unused and expired medicines requires improvement. Educational interventions may help improve awareness further. Creating a chart summarizing disposal procedures of common medicines is important. Similar studies in other regions are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Jha
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, Nepal
- * E-mail:
| | - Sajala Kafle
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Shital Bhandary
- Department of Community Health Sciences and School of Public Health, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Patan, Lalitpur, Nepal
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Zhao X, Zheng Y, Quan F, Hu S, Wu Q, Luo M, Gu Y, Tang S, Jiang J. Road runoff as a significant nonpoint source of parabens and their metabolites in urban rivers. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 301:134632. [PMID: 35439487 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Parabens are widely added to food, cosmetics, and medicines as preservatives and are typical contaminants of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). However, their fate and transport in urban watersheds remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the role of road runoff as a critical nonpoint source of parabens and their metabolites in urban rivers based on 73 multimedia (road runoff and dust in different urban land uses, wastewater, stormwater discharge and river water) samples collected from a highly urbanized drainage area. Seven parabens and five metabolites were detected in the road runoff, with mean concentrations of ∑parabens and ∑metabolites equal to 47.5 ng/L and 4710 ng/L, respectively. The concentrations in road runoff were comparable to those in treated wastewater and river water and showed a land use pattern of residential > industrial > commercial. A first flush effect of the contaminants was observed in a heavy rainfall event with an antecedent dry period. In general, the population-based and area-based emission intensities of ∑parabens and ∑metabolites in road runoff were one order of magnitude higher than those in wastewater effluent during the rainfall events. This study provides quantitative evidence that road runoff can be a major pollution source of parabens and their metabolites in rapidly growing cities during the wet season and calls for the integrated management of nonpoint sources to prevent urban river contamination by typical PPCPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Feng Quan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Shiyao Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qingping Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Meiyu Luo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yang Gu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Sijie Tang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jiping Jiang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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Kutty RG, Bevry M, Hoffmann P, Abourashed EA. Determination of Albuterol and Montelukast Post-Expiry Drug Strength by HPLC. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10104. [PMID: 36016533 PMCID: PMC9396548 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Knowing the level of active ingredients in an expired drug is a matter of concern irrespective of its final disposition. This is also a matter of national security and defense as it has important implications on the nation’s stockpile of prescription medications. Current literature has limited information about the strength of expired medications and any relevant trends. Objective To utilize high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the strength of selected drugs for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a class of therapeutic agents commonly used in free clinics. Methods Samples from expired lots of montelukast and albuterol pharmaceutical products were analyzed for their levels of their respective active ingredients. Two HPLC methods were developed, validated, and applied to achieve this goal. Quantitative analysis of each drug was performed using two different reversed phase C18 columns with a linear gradient of acetonitrile in 0.1% aqueous formic acid at a flow rate of 1 mL/min for both methods. Detection wavelength for montelukast and albuterol was 280 and 277 nm, respectively. Results Expiry dates of analyzed batches ranged from 2003 to 2019. Despite the extended time range beyond expiry dates, levels of both drugs were relatively consistent and exceeded 90% of the listed strength in most analyzed lots. Conclusions Our results introduce a new perspective towards reducing the financial burden resulting from disposal of expired medications with retained strength. They also offer supporting evidence to extend the use of out-of-date montelukast and albuterol preparations at home and in free clinics.
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Yaacob SFFS, Jamil RZR, Suah FBM. Sporopollenin based materials as a versatile choice for the detoxification of environmental pollutants - A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 207:990-1004. [PMID: 35381287 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Before making the transfer to land, plants survive in water for millions of years to avoid the severe circumstances that prevail on lands, such as drought and UV radiation. All land plant spores are coated in sporopollenin, a substance that has developed to endow pollen and spore shells with exceptional, one-of-a-kind qualities. In a nutshell, sporopollenin-coated spores are a unique invention only seen in land plants. Sporopollenin, discovered in the outer exine layer of pollen walls, is a lipid and phenolic-based polymer with high carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen cross-linking. Products based on sporopollenin can remediate toxic pollutant contamination in the aquatic environment. This research and development are now underway. In this review, we show how sporopollenin-based adsorbents act in environmental challenges and their immense promise for this application via remarkable physical and chemical characteristics. A comparison is made of the benefits of various sporopollenin-modified structures. This strategy will further our understanding of how a biopolymer's structure can be accommodated to address emerging environmental challenges, revealing more about sporopollenin's dynamical nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Fariq Fathullah Syed Yaacob
- Green Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
| | - Raja Zalinda Raja Jamil
- Green Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Faiz Bukhari Mohd Suah
- Green Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
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Azuma T, Nakano T, Koizumi R, Matsunaga N, Ohmagari N, Hayashi T. Evaluation of the Correspondence between the Concentration of Antimicrobials Entering Sewage Treatment Plant Influent and the Predicted Concentration of Antimicrobials Using Annual Sales, Shipping, and Prescriptions Data. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:472. [PMID: 35453223 PMCID: PMC9027251 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11040472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The accuracy and correspondence between the measured concentrations from the survey and predicted concentrations on the basis of the three types of statistical antimicrobial use in Japan was evaluated. A monitoring survey of ten representative antimicrobials: ampicillin (APL), cefdinir (CDN), cefpodoxime proxetil (CPXP), ciprofloxacin (CFX), clarithromycin (CTM), doxycycline (DCL), levofloxacin (LFX), minocycline (MCL), tetracycline (TCL), and vancomycin (VMC), in the influent of sewage treatment plant (STP) located in urban areas of Japan, was conducted. Then, the measured values were verified in comparison with the predicted values estimated from the shipping volumes, sales volumes, and prescription volumes based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB). The results indicate that the correspondence ratios between the predicted concentrations calculated on the basis of shipping and NDB volumes and the measured concentrations (predicted concentration/measured concentration) generally agreed for the detected concentration of antimicrobials in the STP influent. The correspondence ratio on the basis of shipping volume was, for CFX, 0.1; CTM, 2.9; LFX, 0.5; MCL, 1.9; and VMC, 1.7, and on the basis of NDB volume the measured concentration was CFX, 0.1; CTM, 3.7; DCL, 0.4; LFX, 0.7; MCL, 1.9; TCL, 0.6; and VMC, 1.6. To our knowledge, this is the first report to evaluate the accuracy of predicted concentrations based on sales, shipping, NDB statistics and measured concentrations for antimicrobials in the STP influent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Azuma
- Department of Environment and Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Japan;
| | - Takashi Nakano
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-8686, Japan;
| | - Ryuji Koizumi
- AMR Clinical Reference Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan; (R.K.); (N.M.); (N.O.)
| | - Nobuaki Matsunaga
- AMR Clinical Reference Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan; (R.K.); (N.M.); (N.O.)
| | - Norio Ohmagari
- AMR Clinical Reference Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan; (R.K.); (N.M.); (N.O.)
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Environment and Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Japan;
- Department of Food and Nutrition Management Studies, Faculty of Human Development, Soai University, Osaka 559-0033, Japan
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Long-Term, Simultaneous Impact of Antimicrobials on the Efficiency of Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Changes in the Microbial Community. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15051826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of simultaneous, long-term exposure to increasing concentrations of three classes of antimicrobials (β-lactams, fluoroquinolones and nitroimidazoles) on: (1) the efficiency of anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, (2) qualitative and quantitative changes in microbial consortia that participate in methane fermentation, and (3) fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Long-term supplementation of sewage sludge with a combination of metronidazole, amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin applied at different doses did not induce significant changes in process parameters, including the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), or the total abundance of ARGs. Exposure to antibiotics significantly decreased methane production and modified microbial composition. The sequencing analysis revealed that the abundance of OTUs characteristic of Archaea was not correlated with the biogas production efficiency. The study also demonstrated that the hydrogen-dependent pathway of methylotrophic methanogenesis could significantly contribute to the stability of anaerobic digestion in the presence of antimicrobials. The greatest changes in microbial biodiversity were noted in substrate samples exposed to the highest dose of the tested antibiotics, relative to control. The widespread use of antimicrobials increases antibiotic concentrations in sewage sludge, which may decrease the efficiency of anaerobic digestion, and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR).
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Javaid A, Latif S, Imran M, Hussain N, Rajoka MSR, Iqbal HMN, Bilal M. Nanohybrids-assisted photocatalytic removal of pharmaceutical pollutants to abate their toxicological effects - A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:133056. [PMID: 34838839 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Advancement in medication by health care sector has undoubtedly improved our life but at the same time increased the chemical burden on our natural ecosystem. The residuals of pharmaceutical products become part of wastewater streams by different sources such as excretion after their usage, inappropriate way of their disposal during production etc. Hence, they are serious health hazards for human, animal, and aquatic lives. Due to rapid urbanization, the increased demand for clean drinking water is a burning global issue. In this regard it is need of the present era to explore efficient materials which could act as photocatalyst for mitigation of pharmaceuticals in wastewater. Nanohybrid as photocatalyst is one of the widely explored class of materials in photocatalytic degradation of such harmful pollutants. Among these nanohybrids; metal based nanohybrids (metals/metal oxides) and carbon based nanohybrids (carbon nanotubes, graphene, fullerenes etc.) have been explored to remove pharmaceutical drugs. Keeping in view the increasing harmful impacts of pharmaceuticals; the sources of pharmaceuticals in wastewater, their health risk factors and their mitigation using efficient nanohybrids as photocatalysts have been discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Javaid
- Centre for Inorganic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Shoomaila Latif
- School of Physical Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Centre for Inorganic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Nazim Hussain
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, 53700, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shahid Riaz Rajoka
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Hafiz M N Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico.
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, China.
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Aluko OO, Imbianozor GT, Jideama CO, Ogundele OV, Fapetu TE, Afolabi OT, Odewade OL. The perception and disposal practices of unused and expired medicines by households in an urban municipality, southwest Nigeria: A comparative cross-sectional study. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 140:121-132. [PMID: 35078076 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Unused, damaged, and expired medicines (UEMs) pose disposal challenges globally, despite their importance. The environmental disposal of UEMs portends public health consequences, hence, this study in high-density (HDS) and low-density (LDS) urban households in Southwest Nigeria. The comparative, cross-sectional study utilised multi-stage samplingto enrol 404 females, experienced in use and medicines safekeeping. The response rate was 93%. Data were analysed by IBM-SPSS, version 20. Continuous and categorical variableswere presentedin tables as mean(±SD), proportions (%), respectively while χ2 and logistic regression statistics determined differences between LDS and HDS (Pα > 0.05). 53.4% and 71.2% of respondents respectively had good knowledge and positive attitudes to safe disposal of UEMs. At least 31.5% of households don't stock medicines while antimalarial (57.3%), analgesics (52.7%) and antibiotics (49.7%) predominate in households and significantly different between LDS and HDS. 72.9% and 67.8%; 47.9% and 55.6% respondents in LDS and HDS, respectively, disposed of solid and liquid UEMs in storage bins, though 34.9% (LDS) and 16.7% (HDS) disposed of liquid UEMs in toilet/sink. There were significant differences in medicines abundance and disposal practices between LDS and HDS for solid and liquid medicines. 37.1% of respondents perceived consequences for the poor UEMs disposal, including accidental ingestion (76.6% vs 26.7%), land pollution (69.6% vs 36.7%), water pollution (72.4% vs 32.8%) and toxicity (58.3% vs 32.8%), respectively in LDS and HDS. Respondents' good knowledge and positive attitudes contrasted with poor UEMs disposal practices, which compromise public health. Legislation, compliance monitoring and enforcement are germane for incentive-driven UEMs recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- O O Aluko
- Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
| | - G T Imbianozor
- Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - C O Jideama
- Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - O V Ogundele
- Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - T E Fapetu
- Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - O T Afolabi
- Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - O L Odewade
- Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
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Barcellos DDS, Procopiuck M, Bollmann HA. Management of pharmaceutical micropollutants discharged in urban waters: 30 years of systematic review looking at opportunities for developing countries. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 809:151128. [PMID: 34710408 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical micropollutants' contamination of urban waters has been studied globally for decades, but the concentration of innovations in management initiatives is still in developed economies. The gap between the locus of innovations in pharmaceuticals and the relative stagnation in less developed economies to manage waste originating in this activity seems fruitful for investigations on innovation in integrated micropollutant management strategies. These tensions allow for advances in current knowledge for environmental management and, particularly, finding solutions for the contamination by pharmaceutical micropollutants of urban water bodies in developing countries. We aim to list the main strategies for managing pharmaceutical micropollutants discussed to point out opportunities for developing countries to advance in this direction. Methodologically, we conducted a systematic literature review from 1990 to 2020, covering 3027 documents on "pharmaceutical micropollutants management." The framework formed by the macro-approach to integrated management operationalized by the dimensional micro-approaches: technical, organizational, community, and governmental allowed us to understand that (1) the management of pharmaceutical micropollutants tends to occur through a technical approach centered on the removal of aquatic matrices, green chemistry, and urine diversion; (2) management with an organizational approach has enabled removing drugs from water bodies by drug take-back program, collaborative projects, drug use reduction, and better organizational practices; (3) the community approach have helped minimize this type of pollution by reducing the consumption of medicines and the proper destination for medicines that are no longer in use. Finally, the government management approach emerges as a source of legal, economic, and informational instruments to reduce pollution by pharmaceutical micropollutants. Furthermore, these management approaches allowed us to identify 15 opportunities for possible adjustments for developing societies. These opportunities can be promising for practices and research and, in the medium term, contribute to minimizing pollution by pharmaceutical micropollutants in urban waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demian da Silveira Barcellos
- Graduate Program in Urban Management (PPGTU), Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), 1155 Imaculada Conceição St, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
| | - Mario Procopiuck
- Graduate Program in Urban Management (PPGTU), Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), 1155 Imaculada Conceição St, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
| | - Harry Alberto Bollmann
- Graduate Program in Urban Management (PPGTU), Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), 1155 Imaculada Conceição St, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
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Zhang R, Yang S, An Y, Wang Y, Lei Y, Song L. Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in landfills: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150647. [PMID: 34597560 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Landfill are important reservoirs of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). They harbor diverse contaminants, such as heavy metals and persistent organic chemicals, complex microbial consortia, and anaerobic degradation processes, which facilitate the occurrence, development, and transfer of ARGs and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). The main concern is that antibiotics and developed ARGs and ARB may transfer to the local environment via leachate and landfill leakage. In this paper, we provide an overview of established studies on antibiotics and ARGs in landfills, summarize the origins and distribution of antibiotics and ARGs, discuss the linkages among various antibiotics, ARGs, and bacterial communities as well as the influencing factors of ARGs, and evaluate the current treatment processes of antibiotics and ARGs. Finally, future research is proposed to fill the current knowledge gaps, which include mechanisms for the development and transmission of antibiotic resistance, as well as efficient treatment approaches for antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Chongqing 400714, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101407, China
| | - Shu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
| | - Yuwei An
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Chongqing 400714, China
| | - Yangqing Wang
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Chongqing 400714, China
| | - Yu Lei
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Chongqing 400714, China
| | - Liyan Song
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Chongqing 400714, China; School of resources and environmental engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
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Adeola AO, Forbes PBC. Antiretroviral Drugs in African Surface Waters: Prevalence, Analysis, and Potential Remediation. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:247-262. [PMID: 34033688 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The sources, ecotoxicological impact, and potential remediation strategies of antiretroviral drugs (ARVDs) as emerging contaminants in surface waters are reviewed based on recent literature. The occurrence of ARVDs in water bodies raises concern because many communities in Africa depend on rivers for water resources. Southern Africa is a potential hotspot regarding ARVD contamination due to relatively high therapeutic application and detection thereof in water bodies. Efavirenz and nevirapine are the most persistent in effluents and are prevalent in surface water based on environmental concentrations. Whereas the highest concentration of efavirenz reported in Kenya was 12.4 µg L-1 , concentrations as high as 119 and 140 µg L-1 have been reported in Zambia and South Africa, respectively. Concentrations of ARVDs ranging from 670 to 34 000 ng L-1 (influents) and 540 to 34 000 ng L-1 (effluents) were determined in wastewater treatment plants in South Africa, compared with Europe, where reported concentrations range from less than limit of detection (LOD) to 32 ng L-1 (influents) and less than LOD to 22 ng L-1 (effluents). The present African-based review suggests the need for comprehensive toxicological and risk assessment of these emerging pollutants in Africa, with the intent of averting environmental hazards and the development of sustainable remediation strategies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:247-262. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adedapo O Adeola
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Patricia B C Forbes
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
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Hassan ELWEL, Taisan AAA, Abualhommos AK. Knowledge and practices concerning the storage and disposal of home medications among people in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Saudi Pharm J 2021; 30:172-179. [PMID: 35528849 PMCID: PMC9072702 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Medications are widely used and stored in people’s homes throughout the year. Inappropriate storage of home medications is a worldwide problem and may affect the effectiveness and stability of medications, which impacts the activity and capability of these medications to treat diseases. This study aimed to assess the awareness of the public in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia concerning the appropriate storage of used medications and the proper disposal of unwanted medications. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia between February and June 2018. The study questionnaire tool was constructed based on several previous studies regarding medication storage, recycling, and the correct and safe disposal of expired, unwanted, or unused medication. Results A total of 820 responses was collected. The results showed that 91.0% of the respondents keep their medications in the original container, and only 4.5% of them write the expiry date on the new containers. While 47.1% of the respondents read the storage instructions written in the medication leaflet, only 16.2% of the respondents ask the pharmacist about the storage instructions. A majority of the respondents (84.4%) check the expiry date of medications before use, and 70.1% of them periodically check the expiry date of stored medications. Age, gender, and education level were important factors that affected medication storage practices. Conclusion This work underpinned the lack of awareness among the public regarding the appropriate way to store home medications and the proper way to dispose of unwanted and expired medications.
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Attitudes and Considerations towards Pharmaceuticals-Related Environmental Issues among Finnish Population. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132212930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
A number of policy recommendations identify the general public as a key participant in environmentally sustainable pharmaceutical policies. However, research into pharmaceuticals-related environmental issues from the population perspective is scarce. We studied the awareness among Finnish adults (n = 2030) of pharmaceutical residues in Finnish waterways, their perceived environmental sources, views on pharmaceuticals-related environmental issues, and their association with background characteristics. Of the respondents, 89.5% were aware of the presence of pharmaceuticals in Finnish waterways. Wastewaters from the pharmaceutical industry were most frequently, and pharmaceuticals excreted by humans least frequently, considered a major environmental source of pharmaceuticals. The vast majority of the respondents were worried about the environmental and health impact of pharmaceutical residues and emphasized issues such as the importance of environmentally sustainable actions by pharmaceutical companies and the recyclability of the pharmaceutical packaging materials. Age, education, use of prescription medicines, and environmental attitude were associated with awareness of pharmaceutical residues, while gender, age, education level, and environmental attitude were associated most frequently with pharmaceuticals-related environmental considerations. These results indicate a need for improved communication about the environmental effects of pharmaceuticals and the significance of different pharmaceutical emission sources in order to promote a more environmentally friendly, effective pharmaceutical policy.
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de Campos EAR, ten Caten CS, de Paula IC. End-of-use and end-of-life medicines-insights from pharmaceutical care process into waste medicines management. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:58170-58188. [PMID: 34105077 PMCID: PMC8187138 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14661-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
End-of-use and end-of-life medicines waste management has been a challenge for public and private managers in different countries. Reverse logistics is a waste management strategy whose application to public pharmaceutical care processes faces legal restrictions and incertitude. Nevertheless, reverse logistics of end-of-use and end-of-life medicines may be both a saving and an environmental strategy in developing countries that manage health under limited resources. How to overcome restrictions to reverse logistics mainly in the context of primary health level? This study aims to investigate the most relevant critical factors for implementing medicine waste management in pharmaceutical care process. The unit analysis is the primary health level process in a developing country capital. Considering the characteristics of the issue at hand, it was designed a qualitative study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The interviewees were key individuals who work directly with the process-from administering medicine to patients to managing waste at the end of the medicine's lifespan or after its use. Results indicated that despite reverse logistics arising from end users is legally forbidden, another type of reverse flow emerged from process analysis. The reverse flow, named reassignment flow, consists of still useful end-of-use medicines exchanged among the 10 government-ran pharmacies and over 140 health centers, where healthcare professionals administer and offer guidance on how to use them correctly. Another result was the identification of the most critical factors in implementing reverse logistics strategies in the public management context. The factors mentioned included aspects pertaining to management, information technology, infrastructure, and government, but they differ from the private context management, in which decision-makers has more freedom. Due to the barriers named by interviewees, the political barriers and complexity of primary health system, results of this investigation point to (i) reinforcing the reassignment flows inside pharmaceutical care logistics cycle, for saving purposes, and (ii) further development of a specific management unit to perform reverse logistics of end-of-use medicines arising from consumers, for environmental purposes. In times of shortage or resources caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, to know the critical factors is a step necessary in overcoming the current restrictions in direction of a well-succeeded medicines reverse logistics, either of reassignment or from final consumers. These results clarify the literature on end-of-use and end-of-life medicines reverse logistics. It also provides managers of 5000 municipalities in the country a perspective on the most relevant critical factors involved in their decision-making process, concerning the reuse of end-of-use medicines or the adequate disposal of end-of-life medicines in the environment.
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Wang LS, Aziz Z, Chik Z. Disposal practice and factors associated with unused medicines in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1695. [PMID: 34530791 PMCID: PMC8447783 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11676-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The improper disposal of unused medicines is a worldwide concern because of its impact on the environment, economy, and health. This study aims to describe the disposal practice of unused medicine and identify factors associated with unused medicines in Malaysia. Methods This was a cross-sectional, face to face interview-based survey using a structured questionnaire. We used a convenience sampling method to recruit participants from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in Malaysia. Results We interviewed 1184 participants, and the response rate was 96%. Out of the total respondents, 995 (84%) reported having unused medicines. About a quarter of respondents kept unused medicines in the cabinet, and another quarter disposed of them into the trash or toilet. Only half of the respondent who used medicines for chronic illnesses had unused medicines compared to about 90% of respondents who used medicines for acute illnesses. The main reason for having unused medicines among those who used medicines for chronic illness was non-adherence (69%, p < 0.05). Only 27% of these respondents returned unused medicines under the “Medicine Return Programme (MRP)”. The other group who used medicines for acute illnesses had unused medicines because their health conditions improved. Thus, most of the unused medicines will eventually end up in household waste. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified respondents who used medicines for acute illnesses as the strongest predictor of having unused medicines (Odds Ratio (OR) = 29.8; p < 0.001), followed by those who pay for their medicines (OR = 6.0; p < 0.001) and those who were willing to participate the Medicine Return Programme (OR = 2.5; p = 0.009). Conclusion The prevalence of unused medicines and their improper disposal were high in Malaysia. Unused medicines are associated with people who use medicines for acute illnesses, pay for their medication, and are willing to participate in an MRP. Rationale prescription and optimal dispensing practice, together with a broader MRP facilities coverage, could reduce unused medicine possession. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11676-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leong Seng Wang
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,School of Pharmacy, Monash University, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zoriah Aziz
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. .,Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, 42610, Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Zamri Chik
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Grela A, Kuc J, Bajda T. A Review on the Application of Zeolites and Mesoporous Silica Materials in the Removal of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Antibiotics from Water. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 14:4994. [PMID: 34501084 PMCID: PMC8433637 DOI: 10.3390/ma14174994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Zeolites and mesoporous silica materials are effective adsorbents that can be useful for the removal of various pharmaceuticals including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics from low-quality water. This paper summarizes the properties and basic characteristics of zeolites and mesoporous silica materials and reviews the recent studies on the efficacy of the adsorption of selected non-steroidal medicinal products and antibiotics by these adsorbents to assess the potential opportunities and challenges of using them in water treatment. It was found that the adsorption capacity of sorbents with high silica content is related to their surface hydrophobicity (hydrophilicity) and structural features, such as micropore volume and pore size, as well as the properties of the studied medicinal products. This review can be of help to scientists to develop an effective strategy for reducing the amount of these two groups of pharmaceuticals in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Grela
- Faculty of Environmental and Power Engineering, The Cracow University of Technology, 30-155 Cracow, Poland
- Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (T.B.)
| | - Joanna Kuc
- Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (T.B.)
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, The Cracow University of Technology, 30-155 Cracow, Poland
| | - Tomasz Bajda
- Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (T.B.)
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Wang Y, Lu J, Zhang S, Li J, Mao L, Yuan Z, Bond PL, Guo J. Non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals promote the transmission of multidrug resistance plasmids through intra- and intergenera conjugation. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:2493-2508. [PMID: 33692486 PMCID: PMC8397710 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-00945-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global threat to public health. The use of antibiotics at sub-inhibitory concentrations has been recognized as an important factor in disseminating antibiotic resistance via horizontal gene transfer. Although non-antibiotic, human-targeted pharmaceuticals are widely used by society (95% of the pharmaceuticals market), the potential contribution to the spread of antibiotic resistance is not clear. Here, we report that commonly consumed, non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac), a lipid-lowering drug (gemfibrozil), and a β-blocker (propranolol), at clinically and environmentally relevant concentrations, significantly accelerated the dissemination of antibiotic resistance via plasmid-borne bacterial conjugation. Various indicators were used to study the bacterial response to these drugs, including monitoring reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell membrane permeability by flow cytometry, cell arrangement, and whole-genome RNA and protein sequencing. Enhanced conjugation correlated well with increased production of ROS and cell membrane permeability. Additionally, these non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals induced responses similar to those detected when bacteria are exposed to antibiotics, such as inducing the SOS response and enhancing efflux pumps. The findings advance understanding of the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, emphasizing the concern that non-antibiotic, human-targeted pharmaceuticals enhance the spread of antibiotic resistance among bacterial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ji Lu
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jie Li
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Likai Mao
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Philip L Bond
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Ray SK, Hur J. A review on monoclinic metal molybdate photocatalyst for environmental remediation. J IND ENG CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2021.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Czatzkowska M, Harnisz M, Korzeniewska E, Rusanowska P, Bajkacz S, Felis E, Jastrzębski JP, Paukszto Ł, Koniuszewska I. The impact of antimicrobials on the efficiency of methane fermentation of sewage sludge, changes in microbial biodiversity and the spread of antibiotic resistance. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125773. [PMID: 33831706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The study was designed to simultaneously evaluate the influence of high doses (512-1024 µg/g) the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials on the efficiency of anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, qualitative and quantitative changes in microbial consortia responsible for the fermentation process, the presence of methanogenic microorganisms, and the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The efficiency of antibiotic degradation during anaerobic treatment was also determined. Metronidazole, amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin exerted the greatest effect on methane fermentation by decreasing its efficiency. Metronidazole, amoxicillin, cefuroxime and sulfamethoxazole were degraded in 100%, whereas ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid were least susceptible to degradation. The most extensive changes in the structure of digestate microbiota were observed in sewage sludge exposed to metronidazole, where a decrease in the percentage of bacteria of the phylum Bacteroidetes led to an increase in the proportions of bacteria of the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The results of the analysis examining changes in the concentration of the functional methanogen gene (mcrA) did not reflect the actual efficiency of methane fermentation. In sewage sludge exposed to antimicrobials, a significant increase was noted in the concentrations of β-lactam, tetracycline and fluoroquinolone ARGs and integrase genes, but selective pressure was not specific to the corresponding ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Czatzkowska
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Monika Harnisz
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Ewa Korzeniewska
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Paulina Rusanowska
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117a, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Sylwia Bajkacz
- Department of Inorganic, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Silesian University of Technology, Krzywoustego 6, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; Centre for Biotechnology, Silesian University of Technology, Krzywoustego 8, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Ewa Felis
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; Centre for Biotechnology, Silesian University of Technology, Krzywoustego 8, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Jan P Jastrzębski
- Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Łukasz Paukszto
- Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Izabela Koniuszewska
- Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
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Zhang C, Barron L, Sturzenbaum S. The transportation, transformation and (bio)accumulation of pharmaceuticals in the terrestrial ecosystem. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 781:146684. [PMID: 33794458 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Soil dwelling organisms, plants and many primary consumers in food webs face the challenge of exposure to contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) present in terrestrial systems, including thousands of substances derived from pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs). The recent increase in the consumption of modern human or veterinary drugs has resulted in a surge of anthropogenic pharmaceuticals, frequently introduced into terrestrial environments via untreated/treated wastewater. Pharmaceuticals display diverse degradation and accumulation behaviours in receiving bodies, however their impact on soils has, at large, been overlooked. Details about adsorption, absorption, degradation and uptake behaviours, as well as the fate and actual environmental impact of pharmaceuticals are a prerequisite before the traditional transportation prediction models originally designed for the aquatic environment can be extrapolated to terrestrial systems. Without this knowledge, our ability for informed risk assessments and the resultant implementation of contamination management strategies of soils will remain limited. This review discusses the current knowledgebase pertaining the introduction of pharmaceuticals to soils via wastewater irrigation or the application of biosolids. The focus on the transportation, transformation and accumulation of pharmaceuticals through the food chain highlights the urgent need to strengthen our capabilities concerning their detection and characterization in the terrestrial ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chubin Zhang
- Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Leon Barron
- Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Sturzenbaum
- Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
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Nepal S, Giri A, Bhandari R, Chand S, Nepal S, Aryal S, Khanal P, Moktan JB, Shastry CS. Poor and Unsatisfactory Disposal of Expired and Unused Pharmaceuticals: A Global Issue. Curr Drug Saf 2021; 15:167-172. [PMID: 32589562 DOI: 10.2174/1574886315666200626164001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals are beneficial to humankind and emerged as crucial arms to treat/manage multiple disease pathogenesis in the present era. In analogous, these medicines/ medical devices should be used cautiously as they possess a potential threat to induce multiple undesired effects that may be related to human health or the environment. Daunting effects may arise due to the improper disposal of unused/expired medicines. Hence, to minimize such harm, there should be adequate knowledge and practice among the population regarding the safe disposal of unused/expired medicines or related pharmaceutical devices. The lack of approved information regarding safe disposal of such substances may invite serious concerns like environmental pollution, which may induce immediate health hazards to the present population and upcoming future generations. There are numerous ways to dispose of, or manage the unused and expired pharmaceutical substances. Sharing the medicines among siblings, friends, and family members are never free from serious health risks. Storing the unused and expired medicines in the home increases the risk of intentional or accidental ingestion of such substances and may create a health emergency. Disposing medicines like household and municipal waste may lead to environmental pollution and harm to humans and animals. The present review finds the multiple unsafe ways of disposal of unutilized medications/tools. Furthermore, it also summarizes the disposal pattern of unutilized medications among the few developed and undeveloped nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Nepal
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Lekhnath 33700, Nepal
| | - Anil Giri
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Lekhnath 33700, Nepal
| | - Ramesh Bhandari
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, KLE College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KAHER), Belagavi, India
| | - Sharad Chand
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Paneer, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575018, India
| | - Sudip Nepal
- District Coordinator- The Leprosy Mission Nepal, Rupandehi, Butwal, Nepal
| | - Santosh Aryal
- District Coordinator- The Leprosy Mission Nepal, Rupandehi, Butwal, Nepal
| | - Pukar Khanal
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, KLE College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KAHER), Belagavi, India
| | - Jeet Bahadur Moktan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Adichunchanagiri College of Pharmacy, Adichunchanagiri University, B.G. Nagara-571448, India
| | - Chakrakodi Shashidhara Shastry
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Paneer, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
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Dos Santos Costa R, Quadra GR, de Oliveira Souza H, do Amaral VS, Navoni JA. The link between pharmaceuticals and cyanobacteria: a review regarding ecotoxicological, ecological, and sanitary aspects. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:41638-41650. [PMID: 34118004 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14698-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are important for ecosystem functioning, but eutrophication may affect the surrounding biome by losing ecosystem services and/or through affecting the cyanotoxins production that threatens ecological and human health. Pollution is an environmental issue that affects aquatic ecosystems worldwide, and the knowledge of the role of synthetic chemicals such as pharmaceuticals is still scarce. Therefore, studies coupling these two relevant issues are essential to better understand the ecological risks and the potential threats to public health. Thus, an overview of ecotoxicological tests performed in the literature exposing cyanobacteria to pharmaceuticals and the possible consequences regarding ecological and sanitary aspects was conducted. Moreover, a risk assessment was performed to enable a better understanding of pharmaceuticals affecting cyanobacteria ecology. Most of the studies found in the literature tested isolated pharmaceuticals in laboratory conditions, while others assessed mixture effects on in situ conditions. The endpoints most assessed were growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activity. The studies also point out that cyanobacteria may present resistance or sensitivity depending on the concentrations and the therapeutic class, which may cause a change in the ecosystem dynamics and/or sanitary implications due to cyanotoxin production. The risk assessment highlighted that antibiotics are among the most relevant substances due to the chemical diversity and higher levels found in the environment than other therapeutic classes. This review highlighted gaps regarding cyanotoxin release into aquatic environments due to the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and the need for more realistic experiments to better understand the potential consequences for human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Dos Santos Costa
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Centro de Biociências, Natal, 59064-741, Brazil
| | - Gabrielle Rabelo Quadra
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Juiz de Fora, 36036 900, Brazil
| | - Helena de Oliveira Souza
- Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro Programa de Pós-Graduação em Meio Ambiente, Departamento de Oceanografia Química, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Brasil
| | - Viviane Souza do Amaral
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Centro de Biociências, Natal, 59064-741, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Natal, 59078-970, Brazil
| | - Julio Alejandro Navoni
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Centro de Biociências, Natal, 59064-741, Brazil.
- Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Diretoria Acadêmica de Recursos Naturais, Natal, 59015-000, Brazil.
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50
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Rasheed T, Ahmad N, Ali J, Hassan AA, Sher F, Rizwan K, Iqbal HMN, Bilal M. Nano and micro architectured cues as smart materials to mitigate recalcitrant pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 274:129785. [PMID: 33548642 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals have been recognized for saving billions of lives, but they also appear as a novel group of environmental pollutants. The presence of pharmaceutically active residues in seawater, surface water, wastewater treatment plants, sludges, and soils has been widely reported. Their persistence in the environment for extended durations exerts various adverse consequences, such as gene toxicity, hormonal interference, antibiotic resistance, sex organs imposition, and many others. Various methodologies have been envisioned for their removal from the aqueous media. Different processes have been restricted due to high cost, inefficient removal, generation of toxic materials, and high capital requirement. The employment of nanostructured materials to mitigate pharmaceutical contaminants has been increasing during the last decades. The adsorptive nanomaterials have a high surface area, low cost, eco-friendliness, and high affinity for inorganic and organic molecules. In this review, we have documented the rising concerns of environmental pharmaceutical contamination and their remediation by applications of nanomaterials. Nanomaterials could be a robust candidate for the removal of an array of environmental contaminants in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahir Rasheed
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Naeem Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences National University of Science and Technology, H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jazib Ali
- School of Physics and Astronomy Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Adeel Ahmad Hassan
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Farooq Sher
- School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Environmental and Computing, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom
| | - Komal Rizwan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sahiwal, Sahiwal, 57000, Pakistan.
| | - Hafiz M N Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, China.
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