Yi Ding, Feng He, Yonghang Zeng, Siyi Wang, Yuewen Chen, Yuxin Cui, Ruoxi Ma, Xingpo Liu
{"title":"The application of constructed wetlands for the removal of human pathogens and conventional fecal indicators: A critical review","authors":"Yi Ding, Feng He, Yonghang Zeng, Siyi Wang, Yuewen Chen, Yuxin Cui, Ruoxi Ma, Xingpo Liu","doi":"10.1002/ep.70154","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Reduction of human pathogens from wastewater is of great importance to human health. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are environment-friendly systems that are capable of reducing chemical pollution as well as pathogens from wastewater. However, the insufficient knowledge on the removal of human pathogens and fecal indicator bacteria in CWs due to the complexity of removal mechanisms and influencing factors impedes an accurate understanding and optimization design of this eco-sustainable technology, which is necessary for further improvement of CW performance. The pathogen removal process is complex and mainly influenced by hydraulic loading rate and retention time, macrophyte, seasonal variation, substrate and wetland type. The main removal mechanisms include sedimentation and filtration, predation and photoinactivation. Generally, subsurface flow CWs allow a better reduction of pathogens than free water surface flow CWs, whereas hybrid CW systems have the optimal removal performance. Finally, suggestions were provided for improving pathogen removal in CWs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ep.70154","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/11/14 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Reduction of human pathogens from wastewater is of great importance to human health. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are environment-friendly systems that are capable of reducing chemical pollution as well as pathogens from wastewater. However, the insufficient knowledge on the removal of human pathogens and fecal indicator bacteria in CWs due to the complexity of removal mechanisms and influencing factors impedes an accurate understanding and optimization design of this eco-sustainable technology, which is necessary for further improvement of CW performance. The pathogen removal process is complex and mainly influenced by hydraulic loading rate and retention time, macrophyte, seasonal variation, substrate and wetland type. The main removal mechanisms include sedimentation and filtration, predation and photoinactivation. Generally, subsurface flow CWs allow a better reduction of pathogens than free water surface flow CWs, whereas hybrid CW systems have the optimal removal performance. Finally, suggestions were provided for improving pathogen removal in CWs.
期刊介绍:
Environmental Progress , a quarterly publication of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, reports on critical issues like remediation and treatment of solid or aqueous wastes, air pollution, sustainability, and sustainable energy. Each issue helps chemical engineers (and those in related fields) stay on top of technological advances in all areas associated with the environment through feature articles, updates, book and software reviews, and editorials.