Iman Al-Saleh , Rola Elkhatib , Maha Alnemer , Hesham Aldhalaan , Mohamed Shoukri
{"title":"Impact of maternal Bisphenol A exposure on thyroid hormones and birth anthropometric outcomes: A repeated measures study","authors":"Iman Al-Saleh , Rola Elkhatib , Maha Alnemer , Hesham Aldhalaan , Mohamed Shoukri","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We investigated the effects of prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on maternal thyroid hormones and fetal growth outcomes within a cohort from Saudi Arabia. In this prospective study, 672 pregnant women provided 1957 urine samples, which were analyzed for BPA concentrations using UPLC-MS/MS throughout three trimesters. We recorded BPA detection rates and median concentrations, using mixed-effects models to examine the influence on maternal thyroid hormones, specifically free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Additionally, we explored the impact on fetal growth markers such as head circumference (HC) and placental weight (PWT) through multivariable regression, adjusting for confounders. Findings indicated that BPA was present in over 95 % of samples, with a notable decrease in median concentrations from the 1st to the 3rd trimester. Higher BPA exposure correlated with a 2.96 % increase in FT4 levels and a 14.58 % reduction in TSH in the top exposure quartile. Fetal growth analysis showed a decrease of 3.8 % in HC and 15.3 % in PWT associated with high first-trimester BPA levels. Furthermore, FT4 levels in the first and 2nd trimesters mediated the relationship between BPA exposure and fetal growth outcomes by 21.1 % for PWT and 19.1 % for HC, while gestational age mediated 12.1 % of the change in HC. The study highlights significant disruptions in thyroid function and detrimental effects on fetal development due to high BPA exposure, underscoring the need for rigorous monitoring and preventive measures during pregnancy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100479"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143444987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Massimiliano Galluzzi , Michele Lancia , Chunmiao Zheng , Viviana Re , Valter Castelvetro , Shifeng Guo , Stefano Viaroli
{"title":"Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanomechanical characterization of micro- and nanoplastics to support environmental investigations in groundwater","authors":"Massimiliano Galluzzi , Michele Lancia , Chunmiao Zheng , Viviana Re , Valter Castelvetro , Shifeng Guo , Stefano Viaroli","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100478","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100478","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Micro and nanoplastic (MNP) pollution is a severe environmental issue, posing potential risks to environmental and human health due to the intrinsic toxicity of plastic particles and their capacity to adsorb other pollutants. The diffusion of plastic debris affects all the environmental domains, including groundwater which was erroneously believed to be protected by the porous structure of the soil. Advanced spectroscopic techniques can detect the polymer type and quantify the number of MNP particles but are affected by large uncertainties in case of particles smaller than 10 μm in size and MNP heteroaggregates. To advance in the morphological and mechanical characterization of MNPs, a new protocol based on multifrequency Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is proposed with the support of the custom open software “MultiFreq AFMSuite”. Reconstituted MNP samples in pristine and aged conditions are used to fine-tune the methodology. Multifrequency AFM allows the detection of MNPs up to the nanometric scale based on elastic modulus assessments. The proposed technique also provides an in-depth analysis of the MNP surface roughness and the morphological characterization of particle aggregates. MNP particles from groundwater samples result in aggregates with a roughness of one to two orders of magnitude higher than the plastic particles aged in the laboratory, suggesting a higher adsorption capacity towards pollutants or other natural compounds. The application of the proposed method can facilitate the characterization of micro-and nanoplastics in groundwater, a resource characterized by large uncertainties in hydrodynamics and pollutant transport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100478"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143350783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Amin Mir , Muhammad Azhar Ali Khan , Bimal Krishna Banik , Syed M. Hasnain , Lina Alzayer , K. Andrews , Sani I. Abba
{"title":"Microplastics in food products: Prevalence, artificial intelligence based detection, and potential health impacts on humans","authors":"M. Amin Mir , Muhammad Azhar Ali Khan , Bimal Krishna Banik , Syed M. Hasnain , Lina Alzayer , K. Andrews , Sani I. Abba","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastic contamination in food products has become a growing concern due to its potential implications for human health, the environment, and food safety. Over the past decade, microplastics have been detected in a wide variety of food items, including seafood, salt, processed foods, and beverages. This review provides a comprehensive description of the sources, detection methods, and health risks associated with microplastics in food. The contamination pathways, including inhalation, and dermal contact, are discussed, with a focus on the most common exposure route—ingestion through contaminated food and water. Among the health hazards that microplastics present include oxidative stress, immune system disturbance, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and possible carcinogenic consequences. Concerns about nanoplastics' toxicity are heightened by their capacity to cross biological barriers and build up in tissues. The research also highlights the necessity of better detection methods, like multispectral imaging and AI-based algorithms, to increase the precision and effectiveness of microplastic identification in food. It also talks about how crucial it is to comprehend the origins and routes of contamination in order to lessen the impact of microplastics in the food supply chain. Critical future research directions are outlined including the creation of regulatory frameworks to restrict exposure to microplastics, standardized detection techniques, and longitudinal human health studies. The evaluation also highlights the need for comprehensive measures to combat microplastic contamination in food by promoting public awareness campaigns and the creation of sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100477"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ling Meng , Tingting Guo , Yizhi Liu , Han Wu , Kang An , Xizhu Xu , Yuancheng Li
{"title":"Occupational exposure to flame retardants following production replacement and their effect on thyroid function indicators","authors":"Ling Meng , Tingting Guo , Yizhi Liu , Han Wu , Kang An , Xizhu Xu , Yuancheng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the ban of commercial Penta-BDEs, Octa-BDEs, and Deca-BDEs, many manufacturers have been transition to the production of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPFRs), and other alternatives. In this study, we recruited 165 employees with typical occupational exposure from a flame retardants (FRs) production plant in Laizhou Bay, which is the main FRs production area in China, to analyze the internal exposure characteristics of FRs and their potential impacts on thyroid function during the historical production and replacement process. The results showed that the detection frequencies of only triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), BDE-138 and BDE-197 (82.4 %, 61.2 % and 60.6 %, respectively) exceeded 60 % among the 34 compounds of interest, while the median concentrations of BDE-138 and BDE-197 were much higher than TPHP (medians of 103.6, 60.6 and 20.5 ng/g lw, respectively). In addition, the concentrations of these compounds in exposed group are higher than those in the control group (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The correlations among FRs indicated they mainly originated from the production and the debromination process. Overall, these results reflect the changes in the product structure. Free triiodothyronine (fT3) was moderately positively correlated with BDE-138, BDE-197, and TPHP (<em>P</em> < 0.05), and regression analysis further identified BDE-138 as a significant factor influencing fT3 levels. Despite TPHP having a rapid metabolism and short half-life, it was still widely detected in this study, indicating that future research should not only focus on the health risks of BDEs or their degradation products but also consider the health risks associated with TPHP and their mixed exposure, especially given the increasing production of OPFRs as substitutes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100476"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Asha Ripanda , Mwemezi J. Rwiza , Elias Charles Nyanza , Miraji Hossein , Mateso Said Alfred , Alaa El Din Mahmoud , H.C. Ananda Murthy , Ramadhani Bakari , Said Ali Hamad Vuai , Revocatus L. Machunda
{"title":"Ecological consequences of antibiotics pollution in sub-Saharan Africa: Understanding sources, pathways, and potential implications","authors":"Asha Ripanda , Mwemezi J. Rwiza , Elias Charles Nyanza , Miraji Hossein , Mateso Said Alfred , Alaa El Din Mahmoud , H.C. Ananda Murthy , Ramadhani Bakari , Said Ali Hamad Vuai , Revocatus L. Machunda","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the increasing use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine, combined with inadequate waste and water management systems, has intensified the problem of antibiotic pollution. Untreated or partially treated wastewater from industries, agricultural runoff, residential areas, and healthcare facilities is frequently discharged into the environment, often used for irrigation, contributing to antibiotic accumulation, the spread of resistance genes, and the rise of antibiotic resistance, posing serious threats to public health and environmental sustainability. The region's climatic conditions favour the survival and proliferation of microbial communities, including pathogens. Additionally, the high prevalence of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, which often necessitate antibiotic use, further amplifies the issue. Systemic challenges, including poor waste management, inadequate or absent wastewater treatment infrastructure, weak regulatory enforcement, and the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics, exacerbate the crisis. Limited healthcare access often results in self-medication and improper antibiotic use, accelerating resistance spread. Evidence shows antibiotics in surface water, groundwater, effluents, food crops, environmental samples, and aquatic organisms, indicating their potential circulation through the food chain. However, a lack of comprehensive data on antibiotic pollution and its impacts on aquatic ecosystems in SSA hampers a thorough understanding of its scope and long-term effects. Addressing this crisis requires identifying contamination hotspots, evaluating ecological impacts, and establishing robust, region-specific regulatory frameworks to ensure environmental and public health safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100475"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wenxiang Hu , Jie Zhang , Dan Li , Ying Yuan , Ying Tang , Kunlong Hui , Yu Jiang , Wenbing Tan
{"title":"Study on factors influencing the transport and transformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil–groundwater systems","authors":"Wenxiang Hu , Jie Zhang , Dan Li , Ying Yuan , Ying Tang , Kunlong Hui , Yu Jiang , Wenbing Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this review, the migration and transformation behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil–groundwater system and their interaction with environmental factors are discussed. The migration and transformation of PAHs are mainly regulated by organic matter, soil depth, surface water, and microbial community. Soil organic matter fixes PAHs through adsorption sites and active functional groups (including carbonyl and carboxyl groups), while microbial communities mineralize PAHs into H<sub>2</sub>O, CO<sub>2</sub> (aerobic), and CH<sub>4</sub> (anaerobic) through metabolic pathways, such as oxygenase, dehydrogenase, and lignin decomposer. However, these mechanisms are influenced by pH, temperature, oxygen, microbial population, and PAH structure. In addition, the migration and transformation of PAHs in soil–groundwater systems significantly differ in response to soil depth (e.g., shallow soil versus deep soil) and surface water. The behavior of PAHs in a single environmental medium has been explored. However, studies on the migration and transformation of PAHs from the perspective of the soil–groundwater system are rarely reported, and only limited studies on soil depth and the interaction between surface water and groundwater have been reported. Therefore, this review is the first to comprehensively analyze the migration and transformation behavior of PAHs from the perspective of the whole soil–groundwater system, incorporating multiple factors (such as surface water, soil depth, soil organic matter, pH, and microorganisms) in the system, filling the gaps in existing studies. This study aims to provide a theoretical framework for future research on the environmental behavior effects of PAHs at the soil–groundwater interface and the contribution of environmental factors to PAH pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100472"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yilan Deng , Qunlin Xiao , Peiyi Liu , Yiming Ge , Xiaohu Ren , Xinjie Li , Qinru Xiao , Benhong Xu , Xiao Chen , Jianjun Liu , Haiyan Huang , Shaoyou Lu
{"title":"Exposure to bisphenol A and its analogs provides a preliminary indication of the risk of cognitive impairment for the elderly via an XGboost-based model","authors":"Yilan Deng , Qunlin Xiao , Peiyi Liu , Yiming Ge , Xiaohu Ren , Xinjie Li , Qinru Xiao , Benhong Xu , Xiao Chen , Jianjun Liu , Haiyan Huang , Shaoyou Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bisphenol A (BPA) and its bisphenol analogs (BPs) serve as key precursors in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. However, due to BPA’ s detrimental health effects, there has been a growing global consensus to restrict its use. The elderly, being particularly susceptible to neurodegenerative disorders, represent a population of concern; yet, research exploring the association between BPs exposure and neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly remains scarce. In this study, the urinary levels of six BPs among 267 participants from the Shenzhen aging-related disorder cohort in China during 2017–2018 were measured. Cognitive status was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the impact of sociodemographic factors, lifestyle habits, and dietary practices was analyzed through the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) classifier. In this study, BPA was the highest urinary level of bisphenol compound detected in the high-risk group (2.10 ng/mL, 95.2 %). Significant differences in BPs levels were observed to the degree of education, tea consumption frequency, meat intake frequency, and distance of main road groups (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Notably, the absence of a significant positive correlation between BPF and BPA levels in high-risk groups for cognitive impairment implies more findings may be needed to fully evaluate BPF’ s actual human exposure levels. The XGBoost models have further revealed that BPA analogs exposure and certain housing characteristics were substantial contributors to the potential impact on cognitive impairment during aging not only BPA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100474"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Muammar Qadafi , Raden Tina Rosmalina , Hanny Meirinawati , Widyarani , Diana Rahayuning Wulan
{"title":"Degradation of 4-nonylphenol in bromide-containing water by UVC/O3/TiO2-combination processes: Impacts on trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids formation","authors":"Muammar Qadafi , Raden Tina Rosmalina , Hanny Meirinawati , Widyarani , Diana Rahayuning Wulan","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The presence of nonylphenol (NP) in bromide-containing water contributed to the formation of regulated disinfection by products (DBPs): trihalomethanes-4 (THM4) and haloacetic acids-5 (HAA5). This study was conducted to determine the impact of ozonation initial pH and UVC-combination process in NP, its precursor properties to THM4 and HAA5, degradation. The UVC-combination process was conducted with standalone UVC, UVC/O<sub>3</sub>, and photocatalytic ozonation using UVC/O<sub>3</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub>. All the process was conducted for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30min. The samples that have gone through the UVC-combination process were then chlorinated for 24 h to determine the formation of DBPs. The standalone UVC process was sufficient to degrade NP in water with a removal efficiency of 78.99 %. In addition, the UVC/O<sub>3</sub> and UVC/O<sub>3</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub> process enhances significantly the NP degradation, achieving 91.15 % and 99.15 % respectively. Although the NP was successfully degraded during the UVC-combination process, the formation of THM4 and HAA5 increased significantly. The UVC/O<sub>3</sub> process is the best choice in removing the NP and THM4 and HAA5 formation with 84.34 %, 94.27 %, and 62.19 % respectively after 5min irradiation process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100471"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yiming Jiang , Ning Fang , Qiang Chen , Tao Long , Roland Weber , Jun Huang
{"title":"Preliminary risk assessment of PFOS in former production sites: A case study in Hubei, China","authors":"Yiming Jiang , Ning Fang , Qiang Chen , Tao Long , Roland Weber , Jun Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sound management of contaminated sites, particularly former manufacturing sites with potential heavy contamination, is crucial for the Parties to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Unfortunately, numerous former manufacturing sites in developing countries have not been well investigated, especially for those associated with newly listed POPs such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Following 3M's voluntary phase-out plan in 2002, China emerged as the primary producer of PFOS and ceased production in 2021. However, little information is available about the contamination levels at these former PFOS production sites. This study focused on five specific sites located in Hubei, China. Soil and groundwater samples, both on-site and off-site, were collected for PFOS analysis. Concentrations ranging from 392 μg/kg to 7.78 × 10<sup>5</sup> μg/kg in on-site soil, 5.05 μg/kg to 83.2 μg/kg in off-site soil, and 84.1 μg/L to 1.74 × 10<sup>3</sup> μg/L in groundwater samples were found, respectively. By employing current national standards in China (i.e. GB 36600-2018 and HJ 25.3–2019), PFOS screening and management levels were established for risk assessment purposes. Preliminary risk assessments showed that 34 % and 100 % of the sampling points would pose unacceptable risks when evaluated using two distinct PFOS characteristic databases. The results highlight the significant health risk caused by PFOS at former production sites as well as the urgent need for regulatory interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100473"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Asvinidevi Arumugam , Khai Ern Lee , Pei Yuen Ng , Aida Soraya Shamsuddin , Aziemah Zulkifli , Thian Lai Goh
{"title":"Pharmaceuticals as emerging pollutants: Implications for water resource management in Malaysia","authors":"Asvinidevi Arumugam , Khai Ern Lee , Pei Yuen Ng , Aida Soraya Shamsuddin , Aziemah Zulkifli , Thian Lai Goh","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100470","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100470","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating contamination of water bodies with pharmaceuticals has raised global concerns due to potential health repercussions. This review aims to provide comprehensive insights into the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in Malaysian water bodies. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review of studies from 2007 to 2024 was conducted using the Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Forty articles were included, reporting on pharmaceutical compounds in various water matrices. Analysis revealed 65 active pharmaceutical compounds spanning major therapeutic classes such as NSAIDs, antidiabetics, antihypertensives, antibacterials and natural and synthetic estrogens. Surface water was the most frequently studied matrix (n = 23), followed by sewage treatment plant effluent (n = 10), tap water (n = 11) and surface sediment (n = 7). Geographically, Selangor state accounted for the majority of studies (n = 29), with limited research in other states, reflecting a notable gap in national monitoring efforts. One of the main contributors to pharmaceutical occurrence in water bodies is household disposal. Despite the higher concentration of pharmaceutical residues in influent and effluent discharges compared to surface water, it is worth highlighting the removal capacity of wastewater treatment plants and the effectiveness of remediation processes. Despite these findings, research on pharmaceutical residues remains limited, with only seven out of Malaysia's 14 states investigated. This lack of comprehensive data underscores the urgent need for nationwide monitoring programmes and the integration of pharmaceutical pollution within national water quality standards. Given the environmental and public health implications, addressing this emerging pollutant issue necessitates a multifaceted approach to mitigate human exposure, safeguard water quality and ensure the sustainable management of water resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100470"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}